The transsilylation reaction between allyltrichlorosilane and 8-trimethylsiloxyquinoline in the molar ratio 1 : 3 yields the hexacoordinated silicon tris-chelate (oxinate)2Si(adho) (“oxinate” = 8- oxyquinolinate, “adho” = di-anion of 2-allyl-1,2-dihydro-8-oxyquinoline) comprising an SiO3N3 skeleton. The identity of this complex was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and 29Si CP=MAS NMR spectroscopy of its chloroform solvate. Benzyltrichlorosilane and dibenzyldichlorosilane, comprising benzyl (Bn) as an “aromatically stabilized allyl moiety” did not undergo such rearrangement. Instead, the complexes (oxinate)2SiBnCl and (oxinate)2SiBn2 were obtained even upon using three molar equivalents of 8-trimethylsiloxyquinoline. We determined the crystal structure of a non-disordered bis-chelate (oxinate)2SiBnCl with Sibound hydrocarbyl and halogen substituents (the previously published (oxinate)2SiMeCl was disordered with alternative Me=Cl site occupancies). (Oxinate)2SiBnCl exhibits surprisingly poor response of the N-Si bonds to the different trans-disposed Si-X (X=Bn, Cl) bonds. For comparison and deeper insights into the coordination chemistry of oxinato silicon complexes with halide substituents, we determined the crystal structures of (oxinate)2SiPhCl·CHCl3, (oxinate)2SiCl2, (oxinate)2SiF2·1.5(CHCl3), and (8-oxyquinaldinate)2SiF2. Furthermore, the crystal structures of BnSiCl3 and Bn2SiCl2 (and its dibromo analog) are reported. The influence of the Si-C-C-C torsion angles of the benzyl group on the 29Si NMR shift of benzylsilanes (which is noticeably upfield with respect to analogous methyl silanes) was analyzed by quantum-chemical calculations.

Bis(trimethylsilyl)carbodiimide (BTSC), so-called “pseudo water” because of some analogies such as similar (group)electronegativities of Me3Si– vs. H– and –N=C=N– vs. –O–, may form two different kinds of “pseudo hydrates” of metals (M), i.e. M–N(SiMe3)=C=N(SiMe3) and M–N≡C–N(SiMe3)2, derived from its carbodiimide and cyanamide isomeric forms, respectively. With anhydrous AlCl3 in Me3SiCl solution BTSC was shown to be capable of forming both kinds of solvates, i.e. Cl3Al–N(SiMe3)–C≡N(SiMe3) (1) and ((Cl3Al)(Me3Si)NCN)3–Al–(N≡C–N(SiMe3)2)3 (2). Both compounds were isolated as crystalline solids, which undergo condensation reactions upon storage. By single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis the constitution of 1 was confirmed unambiguously, and quantum chemical calculations (B3LYP/6-311++g(d,p)) confirmed that compound 1 is 6 kcal mol−1 more stable than its hypothetical N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)cyanamide isomer Cl3Al–N≡C–N(SiMe3)2. Compound 1 represents the first crystallographically confirmed disilylcarbodiimide complex of a metal salt. The molecules of compound 2 are heavily disordered in the solid state (positional disorder of N≡C–N(SiMe3)2 vs. N≡C–N(SiMe3)(AlCl3) and positional disorder of SiMe3 vs. AlCl3 groups in the latter). Therefore, the identity of 2 was additionally confirmed by 13C, 15N, 27Al and 29Si CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy.

Condensation reactions of chlorosilanes (SiCl4 and CH3SiCl3) and bis(trimethylsilyl)ethers of rigid, quasi-linear diols (CH3)3SiO–AR–OSi(CH3)3 (AR = 4,4′-biphenylene (1) and 2,6-naphthylene (2)), with release of (CH3)3SiCl as a volatile byproduct, afforded novel hybrid materials that feature Si–O–C bridges. The precursors 1 and 2 were characterized using FTIR and multinuclear (1H, 13C, 29Si) NMR spectroscopy as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis in case of 2. Pyridine-catalyzed and non-catalyzed transformations were performed in THF at room temperature and at 60 °C. In most cases, soluble oligomers were obtained. The progress of these transsilylations was monitored in solution with 29Si NMR spectroscopy. Pyridine-catalyzed reactions with CH3SiCl3 proceeded until complete substitution of all chlorine atoms; however, no gelation or precipitation was found. In case of pyridine-catalyzed reactions of 1 and 2 with SiCl4, a Sol–Gel transition was observed. Ageing and syneresis yielded xerogels 1A and 2A, which exhibited large linear shrinkage of 57–59% and consequently low BET surface area of 10 m2⋅g−1. The xerogels were analyzed using powder-XRD, solid state 29Si NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, SEM/EDX, elemental analysis, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The SiCl4-derived amorphous xerogels consist of hydrolytically sensitive three-dimensional networks of SiO4-units linked by the arylene groups. The non-hydrolytic approach to hybrid materials may be applied to other silylated precursors, if the reactivity of the corresponding chlorine compound is sufficient.