Interaction between Spirosilanes and Lewis Bases: from Coordination to Frustration

In this work, the interaction between Lewis bases, especially N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), and hindered neutral silicon derivatives featuring high Lewis acidity is described. The formation of normal and abnormal Lewis adducts could be controlled by varying the acidity of the corresponding tetravalent spiro organosilane. Some DFT calculations permitted to gain insight into the thermodynamics of the NHC–spirosilane interaction featuring various NHCs differing in size and σ-donor capacity. Spirosilanes are introduced as new Lewis partners in frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry and some FLP-type reactivities are presented, in particular the activation of formaldehyde that could occur with both hindered NHCs and phosphines.     

Synthesis of 4‐silaspiro[3.4]octa‐1,5‐diene derivatives: hybrid spiro compounds

Trialkynyl(vinyl)silanes CH₂?CH? Si(C?C? R)₃ (R = Bu, Ph, p‐tolyl) were prepared and treated with 9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9‐BBN). Consecutive 1,2‐hydroboration and intramolecular 1,1‐carboboration reactions (each requires different reaction conditions) were studied. 1,2‐Hydroboration of the Si? vinyl group takes place at ambient temperature (23°C in tetrahydrofuran), followed by intramolecular 1,1‐vinylboration to give 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives, bearing still two alkynyl functions at the silicon atom. Further treatment with a second equivalent of 9‐BBN affords 1‐alkenyl‐1‐(alkynyl)‐1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives. These undergo intramolecular 1,1‐vinylboration to give 4‐silaspiro[3.4]octa‐1,5‐dienes bearing the boryl groups at 2 and 6 positions. Protodeborylation of all new compounds (intermediates and final products) using acetic acid in slight excess afforded corresponding silanes including spirosilanes. All compounds were characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C, ²⁹Si) in solution state. Solid‐state structures for one of the trialkynyl(vinyl)silanes (R = p‐tolyl) and one of the 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives (R = Ph) were confirmed using X‐ray diffraction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.