The synthesis and characterization of a stable, acyclic
two-coordinate
silylene, Si(SArMe6
)2 [ArMe6
= C6H3-2,6(C6H2-2,4,6-Me3)2], by reduction of Br2Si(SArMe6
)2 with a magnesium(I)
reductant is described. It features a V-shaped silicon coordination
with a S–Si–S angle of 90.52(2)° and an average
Si–S distance of 2.158(3) Å. Although it reacts readily
with an alkyl halide, it does not react with hydrogen under ambient
conditions, probably as a result of the ca. 4.3 eV energy difference
between the frontier silicon lone pair and 3p orbitals.