The direct synthesis of methylchlorosilanes: New aspects concerning its mechanism

New results are given regarding the mechanism of the chemical process of copper alloyed silicon with methyl chloride (the `direct process'). As indicated by Photo-EMF measurements, carried out with doped silicon samples the reactivity of silicon significantly depends on the type of the doping with elements like phosphorus (n-type) tin, boron, indium (p-type). In-situ trapping experiments with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene are consistent with the creation of silylene intermediates SiMeCl and SiCl₂ . Theselectivity of their competitive insertion steps can be controlled by the doping type and concentrations of the doping elements, especially the phosphorus/tin ratio criterion. n-Type doping favors the silylene insertion into the C-Cl bond due to the electronic silylene stabilization on the silicon surface. In case of p-type doping silylene insertion into Si-Cl bond is favored more intensively leading to the formation of disilanes.     

Insights into the making of a stable silylene

Reduction of Cl2Si[(NR)2C6H4-1,2] (R = CH2Bu(t)) with potassium is known to lead to the stable silylene Si[(NR)2C6H4-1,2] (1). However, silylene is now shown to react further with an alkali metal (Na or K) to yield the (1)(2)2-, c-(1)(3)-*, c-(1)(3)2- or c-(1)(4)2- derivatives. Reduction of Cl2Si[(NR)2C6H4-1,2] (R = CH2CH3 or CH2CHMe2) with potassium does not lead to an isolable silylene, but such a silylene is proposed to be an intermediate and, as for 1, reacts further to afford the potassium salts of c-[Si{(NR)2C6H4-1,2}]4-* and c-[Si{(NR)2C6H4-1,2}](4)2-. The pathways leading to the anionic cyclotri- and cyclotetrasilanes are discussed and supported experimentally; including by X-ray structures of relevant intermediates.     

Crystalline Na-Si(NN) derivatives [Si(NN)= Si((NCH2tBu)2C6H4-1,2)]: the silylenoid [Si(NN)OMe]-, the dianion [(NN)Si-Si(NN)]2-, and the radical anion c-[Si(NN)]3-

Reactions of the silylene Si[(NCH2Bu(t))2C6H4-1,2], [Si(NN)], with NaOMe, excess Na or 1/3 Na yield the X-ray-characterised crystalline compounds [Na(micro-Si(NN)OMe)(THF)(OEt2)]2 (2b), [Na(THF)2Si(NN)]2 (3) and [Na(THF)4][(Si(NN))3-c] (4).     

Synthese funktionell substituierter Disilane auf der Basis von Triflatderivaten

Synthesis of Functional Substituted Disilanes on the Basis of Triflate Derivatives Functional substituted disilanes are prepared by reaction of phenylated disilanes with trifuloromethanesulfonic acid. Reduction of the triflate derivatives with LiAlH₄ leads to Si? H substituted disilanes. The chlorinated disilanes are obtained by reaction of the triflate derivatives with Et₃NHCl. Chloro-hydrogen substituted disilanes are prepared by combination of both reaction types. The preparation of these compounds in a high purity is difficult on other ways.     

Reversible Dimerization of Phosphine‐Stabilized Silylenes by Silylene Insertion into SiII–H and SiII–Cl σ‐Bonds at Room Temperature

Contrary to the classical silylene dimerization leading to a disilene structure, phosphine stabilized hydro‐ and chloro‐silylenes ( 2 a , b ) undergo an unique dimerization via silylene insertion into Si? X σ‐bonds (X=H, Cl), which is reversible at room temperature. DFT calculations indicate that the insertion reaction proceeds in one step in a concerted manner.     

Aminosubstituted disilanes: Synthesis by unsymmetrical and symmetrical reductive coupling

The reductive coupling of chlorotris(diorganylamino)silanes 1 with chlorotrimethylsilane by the action oflithium in THF provides for steric reasons, an easy access to unsymmetrical aminosubstituted disilanes (R₂N)₃Si-SiMe₃ 3. Similarly, cross-coupling to give pentakis(diethylamino)disilane 4 is observed between 1a and bis(diethylamino)chloro-hydridosilane 2a on treatment with lithium. In reactions of the less bulky bis(diorganylamino)chlorohy-dridosilanes 2 with ClSiMe₃ and Li, however, thesymmetrical coupling is preferred and affords SiH-functional substituted (R₂N)₃₂HSi-SiH(NR₂)₂ 5. Aminosubstituted disilanes 3–5 are useful starting materials for modification of disilanes or syntheses ofsilicon heterocycles via generation and trapping of aminosilylenes, as exemplified by diethylaminosilacyclopent-3-ene 6a. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 9:311–316, 1998     

Reactivity of the Donor‐Stabilized Silylenes [iPrNC(Ph)NiPr]2Si and [iPrNC(NiPr2)NiPr]2Si: Activation of CO2 and CS2

Activation of CO₂ by the bis(amidinato)silylene 1 and the analogous bis(guanidinato)silylene 2 leads to the structurally analogous six‐coordinate silicon(IV ) complexes 4 (previous work) and 8 , respectively, the first silicon compounds with a chelating carbonato ligand. Likewise, CS₂ activation by silylene 1 affords the analogous six‐coordinate silicon(IV ) complex 10 , the first silicon compound with a chelating trithiocarbonato ligand. CS₂ activation by silylene 2 , however, yields the five‐coordinate silicon(IV ) complex 13 with a carbon‐bound CS₂^2? ligand, which also represents an unprecedented coordination mode in silicon coordination chemistry. Treatment of the dinuclear silicon(IV ) complexes 5 and 6 with CO₂ also affords the six‐coordinate carbonatosilicon(IV ) complexes 4 and 8 , respectively.     

The decomposition kinetics of disilane and the heat of formation of silylene

The static system decomposition kinetics of disilane (\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm Si}_{\rm 2} {\rm H}_{\rm 6} \mathop {\longrightarrow}\limits^1 {\rm SiH}_{\rm 2} + {\rm SiH}_{\rm 4}$\end{document}, 538–587 K and 10–500 Torr), are reported. Reaction rate constants are weakly pressure dependent, and best fits of the data are realized with RRKM fall-off calculations using logA_1,∞ = 15.75 and E_1,∞ = 52,200 cal. These parameters yield AH_f⁰(SiH₂)₂₉₈ = (63.5 ? E_{b, c}) kcal mol,^?1 where E_{b, c} is the activation energy for the back reaction at 550 K, M = 1 std state. Five other silylene heat-of-formation values (ranging from 63.9 – E_{b, c} to 66.0 - E_{b, c} kcal mol^?1) are deduced from the reported decomposition kinetics of trisilane and methyldisilane, and from the reported absolute and relative rate constants for silylene insertions into H₂ and SiH₄. Assuming E_{b, c} = 0, an average value of ΔH_f⁰(SiH₂) = 64.3 ± 0.3 kcal mol^?1 is obtained. Also, a recalculation of the activation energy for silylene insertion into H₂, based in part on the new disilane decomposition Arrhenius parameters, gives (0.6 + E_{b, c}) kcal mol^?1, in good agreement with theoretical calculations.     

Computational study of the "stable" bis(amino)silylene reaction with halomethanes. A radical or concerted mechanism?

The reaction of bis(amino)silylene with XCH3, X = Cl, Br, I, has been studied computationally using DFT with flexible basis sets. A radical process where a halogen atom is abstracted from halomethane is predicted to be much more favorable than oxidative addition of the halomethane to the divalent silicon center. A chain mechanism is proposed that consists of a chain-initiation step (halogen abstraction) followed by competing chain-propagation steps. In one branch, the methyl-substituted bis(amino)silylene abstracts a halogen from XCH3 to form an observed product (the 1:1 adduct), releasing a methyl radical. In the other branch, the methyl-substituted bis(amino)silylene is intercepted by another bis(amino)silylene, which, in turn, can abstract a halogen from XCH3 to form the other observed product (the 2:1 adduct) and release a methyl radical. In the series, XCH3, X = Cl, Br, and I, we predict an increase of the 1:1 adduct-producing pathway over the 2:1 adduct-producing pathway, which is consistent with experimental observations. The reactivity of bis(amino)silylene indicates a greater similarity to disilene rather than to previously suggested phosphines.     

Synthesis of di- and trisilanes with potentially chelating substituents

Silylenes 2 or 4, generated by thermolysis of cyclotrisilanes 1 and 3, were inserted into the SiCl or SiH bonds of monosilanes to yield a variety of disilanes, which can be further functionalized subsequently. In a few cases, trisilanes are accessible by the reaction of 1 with disilanes. The reaction of a metalated silane with a chlorosilane is an alternative method for the formation of SiSi bonds, which turned out to be especially useful for the synthesis of bulkily substituted disilanes. Some of the new dichlorodi- and trisilanes themselves serve as thermal precursors of silylenes 2 or 4, the extrusion of which can be catalyzed by 1 or 3 in certain cases.     

Bis(tri-tert-butylsilyl)silylene: triplet ground state silylene

Upon irradiation with lambda = 254 nm light over the temperature range of 9-80 K, methylcyclohexane glass matrixes of 1a and 1b gave a characteristic broad EPR signal at 845 mT (X-band, 9.4 GHz) due to bis(tri-tert-butylsilyl)silylene, (tBu3Si)2Si: (2). The signal intensity as a function of temperature (9-80 K) gave a linear relation, and the spin multiplicity of 2 in the ground state was established to be a triplet. Product analysis, from which disilacyclobutane derivative 3 and dihydrosilane (tBu3Si)2SiH2 (4) were formed, also supports the conclusion about the multiplicity of 2.     

Synthese und ungewöhnliche Reaktivität eines Cyclotrisilans

Reductive coupling of dichlorosilane 1 with magnesium yields the stable, highly moisture sensitive cyclotrisilane 2a. The hydrolysis products, 1,3-siloxanediol 3 and disilane 4 corroborate the proposed structure of 2a. The reaction with typical silylene trapping agents like benzyl, benzophenone or 2,2′-bipyridyl results in cleavage of all three endocyclic bonds of 2a, yielding the formal silylene addition products 8, 9 and 10.     

Reaction of an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Stabilized Silicon(II) Monohydride with Alkynes: [2+2+1] Cycloaddition versus Hydrogen Abstraction

An in depth study of the reactivity of an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐stabilized silylene monohydride with alkynes is reported. The reaction of silylene monohydride 1 , tBu₃Si(H)Si←NHC, with diphenylacetylene afforded silole 2 , tBu₃Si(H)Si(C₄Ph₄). The density functional theory (DFT) calculations for the reaction mechanism of the [2+2+1] cycloaddition revealed that the NHC played a major part stabilizing zwitterionic transition states and intermediates to assist the cyclization pathway. A significantly different outcome was observed, when silylene monohydride 1 was treated with phenylacetylene, which gave rise to supersilyl substituted 1‐alkenyl‐1‐alkynylsilane 3 , tBu₃Si(H)Si(CH?CHPh)(C?CPh). Mechanistic investigations using an isotope labelling technique and DFT calculations suggest that this reaction occurs through a similar zwitterionic intermediate and subsequent hydrogen abstraction from a second molecule of phenylacetylene.     

Theoretical Study of the Mechanism of Cycloaddition Reaction between Silylene Silylene (H2SiSi:) and Acetone

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet silylene silylene (H₂Si?Si:) and acetone has been investigated with the CCSD (T)//MP2/6‐31G?? method. According to the potential energy profile, it can be predicted that the reaction has two competitive dominant reaction channels. The present rule of this reaction is that the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of the two π‐bonds in silylene silylene (H₂Si?Si:) and acetone leads to the formation of a four‐membered ring silylene (E3). Because of the unsaturated property of Si: atom in E3, it further reacts with acetone to form a silicic bis‐heterocyclic compound (P7). Simultaneously, the ring strain of the four‐membered ring silylene (E3) makes it isomerize to a twisted four‐membered ring product (P4).     

Photochemistry and photophysics of organosilicon compounds

Photochemical and photophysical processes of organosilicon compounds have been studied. Dual (local and CT) emission has been found in aromatic disilanes. The intramolecular CT fluorescence has a broad and structureless band with a large Stokes shift. The CT process in the excited state occurs very rapidly with a time constant less than 10 ps even in rigid glass at 77 K This finding shows that the CT mechanism is quite different from TICT (or OICT) which needs twisting or internal rotation during the lifetime in the excited state. The CT emission originates from the ¹(2pσ,3dσ) state having an in-plane long-axis polarization, which is produced by the 2pσ* (aromatic ring) vacant 3dσ (Si-Si bond) intramolecular charge transfer. The CT state plays an important role in the photochemical and photophysical properties of phenyldisilanes. At room temperature a long-lived 425 nm transient (silene) is produced with a time constant of 30 ps from the CT state. The photolysis of cyclotetrasilanes is remarkably dependent on their molecular structures: two molecules of the corresponding disilene are produced from the S₁ state of planar cyclotetrasilanes, while silylene is generated by ring contraction in the S₁ state of bent cyclotetrasilanes. Remarkably large Stokes shifts are observed in these cyclotetrasilanes. Dimethylsilylene with a transient peak at 470 nm is observed by laser photolysis of cyclohexasilanes. The dynamic behaviours of the intermediates have been studied by nanosecond laser photolysis. The phenylsilyl radical is generated by photolysis of phenylsilanes in rigid glass at 77 K, which gives a structured emission similar to that of benzyl radical.     

The Raman spectrum and aromatic stabilization in a cyclic germylene

For the stable germylene, N,N'-di-tert-butyl-1,3-diaza-2-germacyclopent-4-en-2-ylidene, 2, the Raman line for the cyclic C=C stretching mode is strongly enhanced and shifted to longer wavelength, compared with that in reference compounds. The enhancement and frequency shift are even greater than those found for the corresponding stable silylene 1. These results, along with NMR evidence and theoretical calculations, suggest that the aromatic electron delocalization is even greater in the germylene than that in the silylene.     

Synthesis and properties of sulfur‐contained poly(silylene arylacetylene)s

Poly(silylene arylacetylene) (PSA) is a kind of poly(arylacetylene) silicon‐containing resins with excellent heat resistance and good mechanical performances. In this article, the sulfur atom is introduced into the main chain of the PSA molecule to obtain a sulfur‐containing poly(silylene arylacetylene), named S‐PSA. By Williamson and Sonogashira reactions, bis(4‐ethynylphenyl)sulfide and bis(4‐ethynylphenyl)sulfone were synthesized. Thereafter, through Grignard reagent way, the poly(silylene ethynylene phenylene sulfide phenylene ethynylene) (PSESE) and poly(silylene ethynylene phenylene sulfone phenylene ethynylene) (PSESO₂E) were synthesized from bis(4‐ethynylphenyl)sulfide, bis(4‐ethynylphenyl)sulfone, and methylphenyl dichlorosilane. Poly(silylene ethynylene phenylene sulfoxide phenylene ethynylene) (PSESOE) was synthesized by the oxidation of PSESE. The structures and properties of these resins were characterized and the mechanical properties of the T300 reinforced composites were tested. The results show that the novel S‐PSA resins have excellent heat resistance and good mechanical properties, and could be used as resin matrices for high‐performance composites in high‐tech fields. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2324–2332     

2-芳基丙硅烷的光化学反应机理

从理论及实验上研究了2-芳基丙硅烷(1)的光物理及光化学特性.结果表明,在极性溶液中观察到的强荧光带来源于分子内电荷转移(ICT);在非极性溶液中,化合物1的光化学反应产物为亚甲硅基并伴随着1,3-甲硅烷基的迁移;而在乙醇-己烷溶液中,光化学反应主要导致Si-Si键的裂解,通过研究光化学反应与温度的关系可确认,亚甲硅基与1,3-甲硅烷基的迁移来源于化合物1的不同电子激发态,非谐振双光子光化学反应(NRTP)结果表明,亚甲硅基迁移来源于化合物1的La电子态.     

Electronic excitations of 1,4-disilyl-substituted 1,4-disilabicycloalkanes: a MS-CASPT2 study of the influence of cage size

We present a multistate complete active space second-order perturbation theory computational study aimed to predict the low-lying electronic excitations of four compounds that can be viewed as two disilane units connected through alkane bridges in a bicyclic cage. The analysis has focused on 1,4-disilyl-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (1a), 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (1b), 1,4-disilyl-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane (2a), and 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane (2b). The aim has been to find out the nature of the lowest excitations with significant oscillator strengths and to investigate how the cage size affects the excitation energies and the strengths of the transitions. Two different substituents on the terminal silicon atoms (H and CH3) were used in order to investigate the end group effects. The calculations show that the lowest allowed excitations are of the same character as that found in disilanes but now red-shifted. As the cage size is reduced from a 1,4-disilabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane to a 1,4-disilabicyclo[2.1.1]hexane, the Si...Si through-space distance decreases from approximately 2.70 to 2.50 A and the lowest allowed transitions are red-shifted by up to 0.9 eV, indicating increased interaction between the two Si-Si bonds. The first ionization potential, which corresponds to ionization from the Si-Si sigma orbitals, is lower in 1b and 2b than in Si2Me6 by approximately 0.9 and 1.2 eV, respectively. Moreover, 1b and 2b, which have methyl substituents at the terminal Si atoms, have slightly lower excitation energies than the analogous species 1a and 2a.     

Disilane Cleavage with Selected Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Salts

The industry-scale production of methylchloromonosilanes in the Müller–Rochow Direct Process is accompanied by the formation of a residue, the direct process residue (DPR), comprised of disilanes Me_nSi₂Cl_6-n (n=1–6). Great research efforts have been devoted to the recycling of these disilanes into monosilanes to allow reintroduction into the siloxane production chain. In this work, disilane cleavage by using alkali and alkaline earth metal salts is reported. The reaction with metal hydrides, in particular lithium hydride (LiH), leads to efficient reduction of chlorine containing disilanes but also induces disproportionation into mono- and oligosilanes. Alkali and alkaline earth chlorides, formed in the course of the reduction, specifically induce disproportionation of highly chlorinated disilanes, whereas highly methylated disilanes (n>3) remain unreacted. Nearly quantitative DPR conversion into monosilanes was achieved by using concentrated HCl/ether solutions in the presence of lithium chloride.