A Stable N‐Heterocyclic Silylene with a 1,1′‐Ferrocenediyl Backbone

Abstract

The N‐heterocyclic silylene [{Fe(η5‐C5H4‐NDipp)2}Si] (1DippSi, Dipp=2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) shows an excellent combination of pronounced thermal stability and high reactivity towards small molecules. It reacts readily with CO2 and N2O, respectively affording (1DippSiO2)2C and (1DippSiO)2 as follow‐up products of the silanone 1DippSiO. Its reactions with H2O, NH3, and FcPH2 (Fc=ferrocenyl) furnish the respective oxidative addition products 1DippSi(H)X (X=OH, NH2, PHFc). Its reaction with H3BNH3 unexpectedly results in B−H, instead of N−H, bond activation, affording 1DippSi(H)(BH2NH3). DFT results suggest that dramatically different mechanisms are operative for these H−X insertions.