Ricardo Rodriguez

Synthesis and Characterization of an Isolable Base‐Stabilized Silacycloprop‐1‐ylidene

Strained but stable: An isolable silacycloprop-1-ylidene stabilized by intramolecular complexation with an iminophosphorus ylide fragment was successfully synthesized and fully characterized. The formation of this small highly strained cyclic silylene involves an unprecedented Si(IV)→Si(II) rearrangement under very mild conditions.

A Stable Monomeric SiO2 Complex with Donor–Acceptor Ligands

Isolation of a monomeric SiO2 compound 3 as a stable donor-acceptor complex with two different ligands -a σ-donating ligand (pyridine, dimethylaminopyridine, N-heterocyclic carbene) and a donor-acceptor ligand (iminophosphorane)-is presented. The SiO2 complex 3 is soluble in ordinary organic solvents and is stable at room temperature in solution and in the solid state. Of particular interest, 3 remains reactive and can be used as a stable and soluble unimolecular SiO2 reagent.

Reversible Dimerization of Phosphine‐Stabilized Silylenes by Silylene Insertion into SiII–H and SiII–Cl σ‐Bonds at Room Temperature

Contrary to the classical silylene dimerization leading to a disilene structure, phosphine stabilized hydro- and chloro-silylenes (2 a,b) undergo an unique dimerization via silylene insertion into SiX σ-bonds (X=H, Cl), which is reversible at room temperature. DFT calculations indicate that the insertion reaction proceeds in one step in a concerted manner.

Donor/Acceptor-Stabilized 1-Silaketene: Reversible [2+2] Cycloaddition with Pyridine and Evolution by an Olefin Metathesis Reaction

The reaction of silacyclopropylidene 1 with benzaldehyde generates a 1-silaketene complex 2 by a formal atomic silicon insertion into the C=O bond of the aldehyde. The highly reactive 1-silaketene 2 undergoes a reversible [2+2] cycloaddition with pyridine to give sila-β-lactam 3. Of particular interest, in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), 1-silaketene complex 2 evolves through an intramolecular olefin metathesis reaction, generating a new 1-silaketene complex 8 and cis-stilbene. Theoretical studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through the formation of a transient silacyclobutanone, a four-membered-ring intermediate, similar to that proposed by Chauvin and co-workers for the transition-metal-based olefin metathesis.

Reversible Silylene Insertion Reactions into Si-H and P-H σ-Bonds at Room Temperature.

Phosphine-stabilized silylenes react with silanes and a phosphine by silylene insertion into E-H σ-bonds (E=Si,P) at room temperature to give the corresponding silanes. Of special interest, the process occurs reversibly at room temperature. These results demonstrate that both the oxidative addition (typical reaction for transient silylenes) and the reductive elimination processes can proceed at the silicon center under mild reaction conditions. DFT calculations provide insight into the importance of the coordination of the silicon center to achieve the reductive elimination step.