Synthese,NMR-spektroskopische Charakterisierung und Struktur von Bis(1,2-dimethoxyethan-O,O′)barium-bis[1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-phenyl-1-aza-3-phosphapropenid]

Synthesis, NMR Spectroscopic Characterization and Structure of Bis(1,2-dimethoxyethane-O,O′)barium Bis[1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-phenyl-1-aza-3-phosphapropenide] Barium-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphanide] 1 reacts with two equivalents of benzonitrile to give barium bis[1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-phenyl-1-aza-3-phosphapropenide]; the choice of the solvent determines whether a tris-(tetrahydrofuran)- or a bis(1,2-dimethoxyethane)-complex 2 can be isolated. 2 crystallizes from DME as red cuboids (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 1627.0(3), b = 1836.6(3), c = 1602.5(2) pm; β = 96.071(12)°; V = 4761.7(12); Z = 4; wR₂ = 0.0851). The phosphorus atom displays a pyramidal surrounding in contrast to the planar coordination sphere of the nitrogen atom. In addition a twist within the P? C? N skeleton of the heteroallyl anion is observed.     

Synthesis and properties of a new kinetically stabilized digermyne: new insights for a germanium analogue of an alkyne

The reduction of an overcrowded (E)-1,2-dibromodigermene, Bbt(Br)Ge=Ge(Br)Bbt (2) [Bbt = 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl], with KC8 afforded a stable digermyne, BbtGe[triple bond]GeBbt (1). The Ge[triple bond]Ge triple-bond characters of 1 were revealed by the X-ray crystallographic analysis and spectroscopic studies (UV/vis and Raman spectra) together with theoretical calculations. The Ge[triple bond]Ge bond lengths of the two nonidentical molecules of 1 observed in the unit cell were shorter than that of the previously reported digermyne, Ar'Ge[triple bond]GeAr' (Ar' = 2,6-Dip2C6H3, Dip = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl).     

Preparation of 2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutenes from 2-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphaethyne and alkyllithiums

2-(2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphaethyne was allowed to react with 0.5 eq. of alkyllithium to afford 2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutenes through an intramolecular cyclisation of a 1,3-diphosphabuta-1,3-diene intermediate.     

Silicon-carbon unsaturated compounds: XXX. thermal isomerization of 1-mesityl-3-phenyl-1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclopropene and 2-mesityl-2-(phenylethynyl)hexamethyltrisilane

The thermolysis of 1-mesityl-3-phenyl-1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclopropene at 280°C afforded 1-mesityl-3,3-dimethyl-4-phenyl-5-(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-disilacyclo-4-pentene and 1-mesityl-1,3-bis(trimethylsily)-1-silaindene. Similar thermolysis of 2-mesityl-2-(phenylethynel)hexamethyltrisilane produced the same products.     

Preparation and reactions of 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyls that feature an amino substituent and/or a carbonyl group

The preparation and properties of a 1-amino-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl and a 1-benzoyl-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl, which can be regarded as functionalized cyclic biradical derivatives, were investigated. Hydrolysis of 1-diisopropylamino-3-methyl-2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl (7), which is formed by reaction of Mes*C[triple chemical bond]P (4; Mes*=2,4,6-tBu(3)C(6)H(2)) with lithium diisopropylamide and iodomethane, resulted in ring-opening of the 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl skeleton, as well as de-aromatization of one of the Mes* rings. 3-Oxo-1,3-diphosphapropene 8 and 7-phosphabicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(8),2,4-triene 9 were the resultant products, and these were subsequently characterized. Isomerization and oxidation of 7 occurred in the presence of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxy) to give the first example of a cyclic dimethylenephosphorane derivative, namely 3-oxo-1,3-diphospha-1,4-diene 10. 1-Benzoyl-3-tert-butyl-2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl (12) was isolated and characterized from the reaction of 4 with tert-butyllithium and benzoyl chloride. Compound 12 was subsequently heated and underwent rearrangement of the benzoyl group and ring-expansion to afford 1-oxo-1H-[1,3]diphosphole 13. Reaction of 4 with lithium diisopropylamide and benzoyl chloride afforded the 2H-[1,2,4]oxadiphosphinine 15, which was probably formed through the 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl intermediate 14. Thermolysis of 15 afforded 1-oxo-1H-[1,3]diphosphole 16 in an Arbuzov-type rearrangement.     

Acyl- und Alkylidenphosphane. XXVIII. Synthese und Struktur von 1,3-Dibenzyl- und 1,3-Diethyl-2,4-bis(phenylimino)-1,3-diphosphetan

Acyl- and Alkylidenephosphines. XXVIII. Synthesis and Structure of 1,3-Dibenzyl- and 1,3-Diethyl-2,4-bis(phenylimino)-1,3-diphosphetane Catalyzed by small amounts of solid sodium hydroxide, the adducts 1a and 1b formed from benzyl- or ethylbis(trimethylsilyl)phosphine and phenylisocyanate, react at +20°C slowly to give hexamethldisiloxane and oligomeric [(phenylimino)methylidene]phosphines. In different solvents the benzyl compound was found to exist only as a mixture of [N,N′-(E)/(Z)]-isomeric 2,4-bis-(phenylimino)-1,3-diphosphetanes 2a with their alkyl groups at the phosphorus atoms in trans position, whereas in case of the ethyl derivative 2b a second pair of [N,N′-(E)/(Z)]-isomeric dimers with their substituents in cis position and two trimeric forms ( 3b and 4b ) could be detected in cyclopentane. [N,N′-(E)]-1r,3t-dibenzyl- ( 2a ) and [N,N′-(E)]-1r,3t-diethyl-2,4-bis(phenylimino)-1,3-diphosphetane 2b isolated from 1,2-dimethoxyethane or cyclopentane, crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c or P2₁/n, resp., with following dimensions of the unit cell determined at temperatures of measurement of +20 ± 3°C/?130 ± 3°C: a = 2145.4(1)/569.3(1); b = 568.1(2)/719.1(2); c = 1960.2(2)/2042.6(4) pm; β 99.43(1)°/95.03(2)°; Z = (2+2) and 2, resp. X-ray structure determinations (R_w = 0.034/0.041) show both molecules to be centrosymmetric. Characteristic rounded bond lengths (pm) and angles (°) are: endocyclic P? C 185/184; C? P? C 82/81; P? C? P 98/99; exocyclic P? C 186/184; C?N l27/127; C?N? C 121/11.     

Strontium- und Barium-bis[N,N′ -bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] aus der Additionsreaktion der Erdalkalimetall-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide] mit Benzonitril

Strontium and Barium Bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinates] from the Addition Reaction of the Alkaline Earth Metal Bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amides] and Benzonitrile The reaction of strontium bis[bis trimethylsilyl)amide] with benzonitrile yields strontium bis[N,N′- bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] · 2THF, which crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn (a = 1845.4(3); b = 131 1,3(2); c = 1838,(3) pm; Z = 4). During the similar reaction of barium bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide] with benzonitrile the benzonitrile adduct barium bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] · 2 THF · benzonitrile is formed. After the addition of diphenylacetylene to the strontium di(benzamidinate) in diglyme a clathrate of the composition strontium bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] · diglyme · diphenylacetylene could be isolated; the spectroscopic data as well as the X-ray structure (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 1492.2(2); b = 1539.1(2); c = 2337.8(3)pm; Z = 4) confirm the isolated appearance of the acetylene molecule without interaction to the metal center in solution and in the solid state, respectively.     

Quantum-Chemical Calculation of 1-Bis(dimethlamino)-4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,3-diphospha-1,3-butadiene

According to the results of ab initio quantum-chemical calculation 1-bis(dimethylamino)-4-bis(trimethylsilyl-2,3-diphosphabuta-1,3-diene exists as an E-isomer where electronic delocalization occurs involving donor dimethylamino and acceptor trimethylsilyl groups and also the multiple P = C bonds.     

Synthese und Molekülstruktur von Barium-bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinat] · DME · THF

Synthesis and Molecular Structure of Barium Bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] ° DME ° THF Barium bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] · thf · dme crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 1 122.0(2), b = 2 190.7(4), c = 1 840.2(3) pm, β = 98.04(1)° and Z = 4 containing a metal center in a distorted monocapped trigonal prismatic surrounding. The barium dibenzamidinate moiety is sent with an angle of 120°, although this leads to different Ba? N distances of 273 and 282 pm originating from the interligand repulsion of the trimethylsilyl groups and the dme substituent. The 1,3-diazaallyl fragment with C? N bond lengths of 132 pm shows a delocalisation of the anionic charge.     

Cycloaddition of Alkenes and Alkynes to the P-centered Singlet Biradical [P(μ-NTer)]2

The reaction of biradical [P(μ-NTer)]₂ ( 1 , Ter = 2,6-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phenyl) towards different alkenes (R = 2,3-dimethyl–butadiene, 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene) and alkynes (R = 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiyne) was studied experimentally. Although these olefins can react in different ways, only [2+2] cycloaddition products ( 1R ) were observed. The reaction with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene also led to the [2+2] product ( 1dmb ). Thermal treatment of 1dmb above 140 °C resulted in the recovery of biradical 1 upon homolytic bond cleavage of the two P–C bonds and the release of 2,3-dimethylbutadiene. In contrast to this reaction, all other [2+2] additions products ( 1R , R = 1,7-octadiene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene, 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiyne) began to decompose at temperatures between 200 °C and 300 °C. Only unidentified products were obtained but no temperature-controlled equilibrium reactions were observed. Computations were carried out to shed light into the formal [2+2] as well as the possible [4+2] addition reaction.     

Regiospecific metalation of oligobromobenzenes

The metalation of selected oligobromobenzenes with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) was investigated. 1,3-Dibromo-substituted benzenes were metalated without special precautions since the resultant 2,6-dibromophenyllithium intermediates are relatively stable under reaction conditions: corresponding benzaldehydes were obtained in good or moderate yields after subsequent quench with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Aryllithium compounds derived from 1,4- and 1,2-dibromobenzene are much less stable, but they could be trapped by the in situ use of chlorotrimethylsilane. The one-pot metalation/disilylation of 1,4-dibromo- and 1,2-dibromobenzene afforded 1,4-dibromo-2,5-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene and 2,3-dibromo-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene, respectively.     

Preparation of partially substituted 1-halo- and 1,4-dihalo-1,3-dienes via reagent-controlled desilylation of halogenated 1,3-dienes

Depending on the desilylation reagents used, 1-halo-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadienes afforded either 1-halo-1-trimethylsilyl-1,3-butadienes or 1-halo-4-trimethylsilyl-1,3-butadienes in excellent yields with excellent selectivity, respectively, when treated with CF3COOH or with NaOMe. These monosilylated 1,3-butadiene products could be further desilylated to generate their corresponding halobutadienes via the above reagent-controlled desilylation reaction. When 1,4-dihalo-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-dienes were treated with MeONa/MeOH at room temperature, desilylation of both of the two trimethylsilyl groups took place to afford their corresponding 1,4-dihalo-1,3-dienes in excellent yields. The commonly used desilylation reagent CF3COOH did not work for these dihalobutadienes.     

Synthese von Magnesium-bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinat] als Bis(THF)- und Benzonitril-Addukt

Synthesis of Magnesium Bis[N,N′ -bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] as both Bis(THF) and Benzonitrile Adduct Magnesium bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide] 1 , reacts with benzonitrile in toluene at room temperature to yield magnesium bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate]-benzonitrile(1/1) 2 . Addition of THF leads to a quantitative substitution of the benzonitrile ligand by two THF molecules. The performance of the addition reaction in THF yields magnesium bis[N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate] · THF(1/2) 3 . The upper benzonitrile complex 2 , crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn with {a = 1383.2(2); b = 2589.1(4); c = 1133.7(1) pm; Z = 4}. The magnesium atom is coordinated distorted trigonal-bipyramidal, where the benzonitrile ligand lies within the equatorial plane. The axial bound nitrogen atom of the benzamidinate substitution shows with a value of 213 pm a slightly longer bond distance to the metal center than the one in the equatorial plane (210 pm). The steric strain within the benzamidinate ligand leads to an elongation of the silicon atoms out of the 1,3-diazaallylic moiety under an enlargement of the C? N? Si angle to 131°.     

Gas phase substitution reactions by radical cations Part 5: Reaction of the CC ring-opened oxirane radical cation with 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-dichlorobenzene

Under conditions of chemical ionization in the high pressure source of a mass spectrometer, the α-distonic CC ring-opened oxirane radical cation transfers a methylene group to 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-dichlorobenzene. The structures of the M + 14]^·+ product ions have been established by collisionally induced dissociation of these ions compared with reference ions and application of principal component analysis. 1,2-Dichlorobenzene yields 80% 2-chlorobenzyl chloride, 5% 2,3-dichlorotoluene and 15% 3,4-dichlorotoluene. The [M + 14]^·+ ions from 1,3-dichlorobenzene are 64–67% 3-chlorobenzyl chloride, 27–28% 2,6-dichlorotoluene and 7% 2,4- or 3,5-dichlorotoluene. From 1,4-dichlorobenzene mainly 4-chlorobenzyl chloride is formed, together with some 2,5-dichlorotoluene. In this case there is also an unidentified contribution, probably by 1,4-dichlorocycloheptatriene ions. Possible formation of distonic product ions does not occur in the cases of 1,2- and 1,3-dichlorobenzene, and from 1,4-dichlorobenzene it is considered to be unlikely.     

Five-membered 2,3-dioxo heterocycles: LXXXVIII. Reaction of 3-aroylpyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]benzoxazine-1,2,4(4H)-triones with N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide under thermolysis conditions

Thermolysis of 3-aroylpyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]benzoxazine-1,2,4(4H)-triones generates aroyl(2-oxo-1,4-benzoxazin-3-yl)ketenes which react as dienes at the aroylketene fragment in [4 + 2]-cycloaddition at the C=N bond of N,N??-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide with formation of 3-[6-aryl-4-oxo-3-cyclohexyl-2-cyclohexylimino-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-oxazin-5-yl]-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-2-ones. Thermolysis of the latter is accompanied by elimination of N,N??-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and aroyl(2-oxo-1,4-benzoxazin-3-yl)ketenes thus generated undergo cyclodimerization to produce 7-aroyl-6,10-dioxo-9-(2-oxo-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3-yl)-6,10-dihydrobenzo[b]pyrido[1,2-d][1,4]oxazin-8-yl benzoates.     

Synthetic and structural studies on C-ethynyl- and C-bromo-carboranes

A high-yield preparation of the C-monoethynyl para-carborane, 1-Me(3)SiC[triple bond]C-1,12-C2B10H11, from C-monocopper para-carborane and 1-bromo-2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyne, BrC[triple bond]CSiMe(3) is reported. The low-yield preparation of 1,12-(Me3SiC[triple bond]C)2-1,12-C2B10H10 from the C,C'-dicopper para-carborane derivative with 1-bromo-2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyne, BrC[triple bond]CSiMe3, has been re-investigated and other products were identified including the C-monoethynyl-carborane 1-Me3SiC[triple bond]C-1,12-C2B10H11 and two-cage assemblies generated from cage-cage couplings. The contrast in the yields of the monoethynyl and diethynyl products is due to the highly unfavourable coupling process between 1-RC[triple bond]C-12-Cu-1,12-C2B10H10 and the bromoalkyne. The ethynyl group at the cage carbon C(1) strongly influences the chemical reactivity of the cage carbon at C(12)-the first example of the "antipodal effect" affecting the syntheses of para-carborane derivatives. New two-step preparations of 1-ethynyl- and 1,12-bis(ethynyl)-para-carboranes have been developed using a more readily prepared bromoethyne, 1-bromo-3-methyl-1-butyn-3-ol, BrC[triple bond]CCMe2OH. The molecular structures of the two C-monoethynyl-carboranes, 1-RC[triple bond]C-1,12-C2B10H11 (R = H and Me3Si), were experimentally determined using gas-phase electron diffraction (GED). For R = H (R(G) = 0.053) a model with C(5v) symmetry refined to give a C[triple bond]C bond distance of 1.233(5) A. For R = Me3Si (R(G) = 0.048) a model with C(s) symmetry refined to give a C[triple bond]C bond distance of 1.227(5) A. Molecular structures of 1,12-Br2-1,12-C2B10H10, 1-HC[triple bond]C-12-Br-1,12-C2B10H10 and 1,12-(Me(3)SiC[triple bond]C)2-1,12-C2B10H10 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Substituents at the cage carbon atoms on the C2B10 cage skeleton in 1-X-12-Y-1,12-C2B10H10 derivatives invariably lengthen the cage C-B bonds. However, the subtle substituent effects on the tropical B-B bond lengths in these compounds are more complex. The molecular structures of the ethynyl-ortho-carborane, 1-HC[triple bond]C-1,2-C2B10H11 and the ethene, trans-Me3SiBrC=CSiMe3Br are also reported.     

Efficient novel 1,2-diphosphite ligands derived from d-mannitol in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

A novel Pd/1,2-diphosphite catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of 1,3-diarylpropenyl acetate with malonates was developed. Catalyst optimization via a variation in the protecting groups at the 1,2- and/or 5,6-positions of d-mannitol skeleton and in biaryl moieties of the ligands led to a ‘lead’ catalyst, which efficiently mediated the allylic alkylations. The activities and enantioselectivities of the reaction clearly showed that the stereogenic centers of the skeleton and the axially chiral diaryl moieties of the ligands had a synergic effect. The ligand 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3,4-bis[(S)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl]phosphite-d-mannitol afforded excellent yields (up to 99%) and high levels of enantioselectivies (ee up to 98%) in 1,4-dioxane/CH₂Cl₂ mixture (v/v, 1:1) using [Pd(π-allyl)Cl]₂ as catalytic precursor and LiOAc as base. Dramatic changes in the sense and in the degree of the enantioselectivity depending on the configuration of the diaryl moieties of the ligands and reaction conditions were observed.     

Thermal isomerization of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptane and bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene through the (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene intermediate

The thermal isomerization of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptane and bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene was studied using ab initio methods at the multiconfiguration self-consistent field level. The lowest-energy pathway for thermolysis of both structures proceeds through the (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene intermediate. Ten transition states were located, which connect these three structures to the final product, (Z,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene. Three reaction channels were investigated, which included the conrotatory and disrotatory ring opening of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptane and bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene and trans double bond rotation of (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene. The activation barrier for the conrotatory ring opening of tricyclo[4.1.0.0(2,7)]heptane to (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene was found to be 40 kcal mol(-1), while the disrotatory pathway to (Z,Z)-1,3-cyclohetpadiene was calculated to be 55 kcal mol(-1). The thermolysis of bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene via a conrotatory pathway to (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene had a 35 kcal mol(-1) barrier, while the disrotatory pathway to (Z,Z)-1,3-cyclohetpadiene had a barrier of 48 kcal mol(-1). The barrier for the isomerization of (E,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene to bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-ene was found to be 12 kcal mol(-1), while that directly to (Z,Z)-1,3-cycloheptadiene was 20 kcal mol(-1).     

Structural and coordination properties of 1,2-bis(cyclopropyl)-3,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-3,4-diphosphinidenecyclobutene prepared by dehydrogenative homocoupling of 3-cyclopropyl-1-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphaallene

According to a protocol for the synthesis of phosphaallenes we recently established, 3-cyclopropyl-1-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphallene was obtained from (Z)-2-bromo-3-cyclopropyl-1-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphapropene. A novel bidentate ligand, 1,2-bis(cyclopropyl)-3,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-3,4-diphosphinidenecyclobutene, was prepared by oxidative homocoupling of 3-cyclopropyl-1-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphaallene in the presence of butyllithium, together with the generation of hydrogen gas. The 1,2-bis(cyclopropyl)-3,4-diphosphinidenecyclobutene was allowed to react with (tht)AuCl (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) to afford the corresponding digold(I) complex of a six-membered metallacycle containing the P=C-C=P skeleton. The molecular structures of the 2-bromo-3-cyclopropyl-1-phosphapropene, 1,2-bis(cyclopropyl)-3,4-diphosphinidenecyclobutene and the digold complex were unambiguously determined by X-ray crystallography and are discussed from the point of view of the cyclopropyl conjugation.     

Generation and conversion of the transient 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-( 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)-silene

Treatment of 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzaldehyde with tris(trimethylsilyl)silylmagnesium bromide (2) gives 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl-tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl-methanol (3) in approximately 70% yield and E-3,4-bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)-1,1,2,2-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)-1,2-disilacyclobutane (5) (15%). 5 is the [2 + 2] head-to-head cyclodimer of the transient 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)silene (4), formed by trimethylsilanolate elimination according to a Peterson mechanism from the magnesium alkoxide, derived from the alcohol 3. Deprotonation of 3 with McLi at low temperature in ether produces a complex mixture of products, the main constituents being the silene dimer 5 (10%) and bis(trimethylsilyl)-2,4,6-triisopropylbenzyl-trimethylsiloxysilane (10) (60%), which is formed by readdition of the eliminated lithiumtrimethylsilanolate at the Si=C bond of 4. The deprotonation of 3 with McMgBr or PhMgBr (activated by LiBr) in THF at room temperature results in the formation of the polysilane (Me₃Si)₃SiSi(SiMe₃)₂CH₂(2,4,6-C₆H₂iPr₃) (13). Its generation indicates that there exists an equilibrium between the magnesium alkoxide derived from the alcohol 3 on one side, and the magnesium silanide 2 and 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzaldehyde on the other side. Possible pathways of the formation of the compounds mentioned, as well as of further by-products, are discussed. The 1,2-disilacyclobutane 5 is characterized by an X-ray crystal structure analysis.