Synthesis and Reactivity of (Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)ruthenium Complexes of the Stable Neutral Silylene Si(^tBuNCHCHN^tBu)

Abstract

The coordination chemistry of the stable silylene ( 1 ) in Cp*Ru complexes has been investigated. Silylene 1 reacts with 0.25 equiv of [Cp*RuCl] 4 to give the 16-electron Ru silylene complex ( 2 ). This complex reacts with primary silanes to give the unusual products ( 3, R = Ph; 4, R = Hex ( n -hexyl)). The structures of these products were confirmed by 1 H, 13 C, and 29 Si NMR and IR spectroscopy and, in the case of 4, by X-ray crystallography. In addition, reaction of 1 with 1 equiv of [Cp*Ru(NCMe) 3 ]OTf gave the product of displacement of one acetonitrile group from Ru, ( 5 ). Heating 5 in THF results in precipitation of a crystalline complex formulated as ( 6 ).