Synthesis and Reactivity of Pincer-Type Cobalt Silyl and Silylene Complexes

Abstract

Preparation and characterization of a series of pincer-type [P2Si]Co complexes are reported, including a crystal structure of the first base-free cobalt silylene complex. The cationic silylene complex is strongly Lewis acidic and oxophilic, readily coordinating Lewis bases such as triflate and pyridine and heterolytically cleaving the O–H bonds in ethanol and water.