Ambiphilicity of Dichlorosilylene in a Single Molecule

Abstract

SiCl2 as a simultaneous σ-donor and -acceptor: The reaction of the Lewis base stabilized dichlorosilylene L→SiCl2 with B(C6F5)3 (L=imidazol-2-ylidene derivative) afforded the first silylene donor acceptor L→SiCl2→B(C6F5)3 complex (shown here). Charge density analysis revealed that the two C→Si and Si→B donor bonds are of considerably different quality. However, plain bond length consideration might suggest simple CSi and SiB single bonds.