Metal-catalyzed hydrosilylation of alkenes and alkynes using dimethyl(pyridyl)silane

Metal-catalyzed hydrosilylation of alkenes and alkynes using dimethyl(pyridyl)silane is described. The hydrosilylation of alkenes using dimethyl(2-pyridyl)silane (2-PyMe(2)SiH) proceeded well in the presence of a catalytic amount of RhCl(PPh(3))(3) with virtually complete regioselectivity. By taking advantage of the phase tag property of the 2-PyMe(2)Si group, hydrosilylation products were isolated in greater than 95% purity by simple acid-base extraction. Strategic catalyst recovery was also demonstrated. The hydrosilylation of alkynes using 2-PyMe(2)SiH proceeded with a Pt(CH(2)=CHSiMe(2))(2)O/P(t-Bu)(3) catalyst to give alkenyldimethyl(2-pyridyl)silanes in good yield with high regioselectivity. A reactivity comparison of 2-PyMe(2)SiH with other related hydrosilanes (3-PyMe(2)SiH, 4-PyMe(2)SiH, and PhMe(2)SiH) was also performed. In the rhodium-catalyzed reaction, the reactivity order of hydrosilane was 2-PyMe(2)SiH > 3-PyMe(2)SiH, 4-PyMe(2)SiH, PhMe(2)SiH, indicating a huge rate acceleration with 2-PyMe(2)SiH. In the platinum-catalyzed reaction, the reactivity order of hydrosilane was PhMe(2)SiH, 3-PyMe(2)SiH > 4-PyMe(2)SiH > 2-PyMe(2)SiH, indicating a rate deceleration with 2-PyMe(2)SiH and 4-PyMe(2)SiH. It seems that these reactivity differences stem primarily from the governance of two different mechanisms (Chalk-Harrod and modified Chalk-Harrod mechanisms). From the observed reactivity order, coordination and electronic effects of dimethyl(pyridyl)silanes have been implicated.     

Unusually accelerated silylmethyl transfer from tin in stille coupling: implication of coordination-driven transmetalation

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 2-PyMe2SiCH2SnBu3 with aryl iodide (Ar-I) exclusively produced the 2-PyMe2SiCH2 transferred product 2-PyMe2SiCH2Ar. The relative transfer ability of organic group from tin was found to be 2-PyMe2SiCH2 > Ph > Me > Bu > PhMe2SiCH2, which implies the beneficial pyridyl-to-palladium coordination effect. Thus, the transfer of the silylmethyl group from tin to palladium was remarkably accelerated by simply appending the 2-pyridyl group on silicon. The pyridyl-to-palladium coordination was validated in the palladium(II) complex 2-PyMe2SiCH2PdClPPh3 by 1H NMR and X-ray crystal structure analysis. The cross-coupling product was used for further transformations. The C-Si oxidation of the cross-coupling product 2-PyMe2SiCH2Ar afforded ArCH2OH in high yield. The fluoride ion-catalyzed 1,2-addition of 2-PyMe2SiCH2Ar to carbonyl compound (RR'C=O) gave ArCH2C(OH)RR' in high yield.     

Preparation de β-cetonitriles via l'acylation du cyanacetate de trimethylsilyle par les anhydrides mixtes.

β-ketonitriles R¹COCH₂CN and R¹COCH(R²)CN are respectively prepared from (CH₃)₃SiOCOCHLiCN or R²CHLiCN by acylation reaction with mixed anhydrides RCOOCO₂Et.     

Tandem conjugate addition-α-alkylation of unsaturated amides. Synthetic methodology.

1,4-Addition of RLi, RMgX, and (RS) ₂CHLi reagents to unsaturated amides 2a-c followed by α-alkylation is shown to constitute a general and efficient synthetic procedure for the formation of two CC bonds in a single step.     

Structures in solution of organophosphorus-lithium compounds

Abstract

Low temperature ³¹P and ⁷Li nmr spectra of Et₂O solutions of lithiated organophosphorus compounds have resolved coupling constants ¹J(³¹P-⁷Li) in the range 30–50 Hz. These spectra demonstrate the covalent nature of the species and also provide information regarding the state of molecular association. [Ph₂PLi] is found to be a symmetrical dimer whilst [PhMePLi] gives a mixture of dimer and trimer. [PhHPLi] exists in only one form, detailed consideration of the ³¹P and ⁷Li results suggesting a trimeric structure. (PH₂P)₂CHLi and [Ph₂P][Ph₂P(S)]CHLi are found to be covalent monomers. it is proposed that in the dimers and trimers phosphorus retains an electron lone pair and that the bonding is of the multi-centre electron deficient type as found in the organolithuims themselves.     

The electronic structure of lithium ethylene (LiCHCH2) and related molecules

The results of SCF-MO calculations using large basis sets are reported for H₂CCHLi, H₂CCHO and H₂CCH₂. Particular attention is paid to obtaining chemically useful information from the wavefunction using techniques such as population analysis, density difference maps, etc., and the bonding in and electronic properties of the three molecules are compared.     

Reactivity of cyclooligophosphanes: synthesis and structural characterisation of cyclo-1,4-(BH3)2(P4Ph4CH2) and cyclo-1,2-(BH3)2(P5Ph5)

The borane complexes cyclo-1,4-(BH3)2(P4Ph4CH2) (3) and cyclo-1,2-(BH3)2(P5Ph5) (4) were prepared by reaction of cyclo-(P4Ph4CH2) and cyclo-(P5Ph5) with BH3(SMe2). Only the 2:1 complexes 3 and 4 were isolated, even when an excess of the borane source was used. In solution, 3 exists as a mixture of the two diastereomers (R(P)*,S(P)*,S(P)*,R(P)*)-(+/-)-3 and (R(P)*,R(P)*,R(P)*,R(P)*)-(+/-)-3. However, in the solid state the (R(P)*,S(P)*,S(P)*,R(P)*)-(+/-) diastereomer is the major stereoisomer. Similarly, while only one isomer of 4 is observed in its X-ray structure, NMR spectroscopic investigations reveal that it forms a complex mixture of isomers in solution. 3 may be deprotonated with tBuLi to give the lithium salt cyclo-1,4-(BH3)2(P4Ph4CHLi) (3 x Li), though this could not be isolated in pure form.     

Anionic Polymerization Behavior of α-Methylene-N-methylpyrrolidone

Anionic polymerization of α-methylene-N-methylpyrrolidone ( MMP ) was carried out in THF at −78∼0 °C with diphenylmethylpotassium (Ph₂CHK) and with diphenylmethyllithium (Ph₂CHLi) in the presence of Lewis acidic diethylzinc (Et₂Zn). Poly( MMP )s possessing predicted molecular weights based on the molar ratios between monomer and initiators and narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n < 1.1) were obtained in quantitative yields. It was demonstrated that the propagating chain end of poly( MMP ) was stable at −30 °C to form the polymers with well-defined chain structures. From the polymerizations at the various temperatures ranging from −50 to −30 °C, the apparent rate constant and the activation energy of the polymerization were estimated as follows: ln k = −6.93 × 10³/T + 25.7 and 57 ± 5 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively.     

Reactions of silicon atoms and small clusters with CO: experimental and theoretical characterization of SinCO (n=1-5), Si2(CO)2, c-Si2(mu-O)(mu-CSi), and c-Si2(mu-O)(mu-CCO) in solid argon

Reactions of silicon atoms and small clusters with carbon monoxide molecules in solid argon have been studied using matrix isolation infrared absorption spectroscopy. In addition to the previously reported SiCO monocarbonyl, Si(2)(CO)(2) and Si(n)CO (n=2-5) carbonyl molecules were formed spontaneously on annealing and were characterized on the basis of isotopic substitution and theoretical calculations. It was found that Si(2)CO, Si(3)CO, and Si(5)CO are bridge-bonded carbonyl compounds, whereas Si(4)CO is a terminal-bonded carbonyl molecule. The Si(2)(CO)(2) and Si(3)CO molecules photochemically rearranged to the more stable c-Si(2)(mu-O)(mu-CCO) and c-Si(2)(mu-O) (mu-CSi) isomers where Si(2) is inserted into the CO triple bond.     

High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of alkylated silicon(111) surfaces

Hydrogen-terminated, chlorine-terminated, and alkyl-terminated crystalline Si(111) surfaces have been characterized using high-resolution, soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy from a synchrotron radiation source. The H-terminated Si(111) surface displayed a Si 2p(3/2) peak at a binding energy 0.15 eV higher than the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak. The integrated area of this shifted peak corresponded to one equivalent monolayer, consistent with the assignment of this peak to surficial Si-H moieties. Chlorinated Si surfaces prepared by exposure of H-terminated Si to PCl5 in chlorobenzene exhibited a Si 2p(3/2) peak at a binding energy of 0.83 eV above the bulk Si peak. This higher-binding-energy peak was assigned to Si-Cl species and had an integrated area corresponding to 0.99 of an equivalent monolayer on the Si(111) surface. Little dichloride and no trichloride Si 2p signals were detected on these surfaces. Silicon(111) surfaces alkylated with CnH(2n+1)- (n = 1 or 2) or C6H5CH2- groups were prepared by exposing the Cl-terminated Si surface to an alkylmagnesium halide reagent. Methyl-terminated Si(111) surfaces prepared in this fashion exhibited a Si 2p(3/2) signal at a binding energy of 0.34 eV above the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak, with an area corresponding to 0.85 of a Si(111) monolayer. Ethyl- and C6H5CH2-terminated Si(111) surfaces showed no evidence of either residual Cl or oxidized Si and exhibited a Si 2p(3/2) peak approximately 0.20 eV higher in energy than the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak. This feature had an integrated area of approximately 1 monolayer. This positively shifted Si 2p(3/2) peak is consistent with the presence of Si-C and Si-H surface functionalities on such surfaces. The SXPS data indicate that functionalization by the two-step chlorination/alkylation process proceeds cleanly to produce oxide-free Si surfaces terminated with the chosen alkyl group.     

1,3-Migration of Trimethylsilyl Group from Carbon to Oxygen in Highly Sterically Hindered Silanol of the Type (Me 3 Si) 3 CSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )MeOH and Reaction of the Related Iodide with Iodine Monochloride and Iodine Monobromide

The silanol (Me 3 Si) 3 CSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )MeOH has been shown to isomerize to (Me 3 Si) 2 CHSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )(Me)(OSiMe 3 ) when it was kept at room temperature for 10 h in 0.2 M NaOMe/MeOH. Corresponding isomerizations of the above silanol (to give (Me 3 Si) 2 CHSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p ) (Me)(OSiMe 3 )) are complete after 26 h under reflux in pyridine. The reaction involve 1,3-migration from carbon to oxygen within a silanolate ion to give a carbanion, which rapidly acquires a proton from the solvent. Treatment of (Me 3 Si) 3 CSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )MeOH with MeLi in Et 2 O/THF give, by the same rearrangement, the organolithium reagent (Me 3 Si) 2 CLiSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )(Me)(OSiMe 3 ) which on treatment with Me 2 SiHCl gives (Me 3 Si) 2 C(SiMe 2 H)Si(C 6 H 4 Me- p )(Me)(OSiMe 3 ) and (Me 3 Si) 2 CHSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )(Me)(OSiMe 3 ). When the experiment was repeated, but with Me 3 SiCl in place of Me 2 SiHCl, it gives exclusively (Me 3 Si) 2 CHSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )(Me)(OSiMe 3 ). Treatment of the organolithium reagent (Me 3 Si) 2 CLiSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )(Me)(OSiMe 3 ) with Mel gives exclusively (Me 3 Si) 2 CMeSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )(Me)(OSiMe 3 ). The related iodide (Me 3 Si) 3 CSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )Mel reacts with ICI and IBr to give rearranged (Me 3 Si) 2 C(SiMe 2 X)Si(C 6 H 4 Me- p )Me 2 and unrearranged products (Me 3 Si) 3 CSi(C 6 H 4 Me- p )MeX, (X = Cl, Br) respectively. The rearranged bromide (Me 3 Si) 2 C(SiMe 2 Br)Si(C 6 H 4 Me- p )Me 2 reacts with a range of silver [I] salts AgY (Y = OOCCH 3 , SO 4 2 m ) and Mercury [II] salt HgY 2 (Y = OOCCH 3 , SO 4 2 m ) in glacial CH 3 COOH to give the corresponding species (Me 3 Si) 2 C(SiMe 2 OOCCH 3 )Si(C 6 H 4 Me- p )Me 2 . The reaction of the bromide with AgBF 4 in MeOH or i -PrOH give the corresponding rearranged products (Me 3 Si) 2 C(SiMe 2 Y)Si(C 6 H 4 Me- p )Me 2 (Y = --OMe, --OPr i ).     

Unidirectional Pt silicide nanowires grown on vicinal Si(100)

We investigated the structure and electronic properties of unidirectional Pt(2)Si nanowires (NWs) grown on a Si(100)-2 degrees off surface. We found that Pt(2)Si NWs were formed along the step edges of the Si(100)-2 degrees off surface with c(4x6) reconstructions that occurred on the terraces of Si(100) using scanning tunneling microscopy and the structure of formed NWs was found to be Pt(2)Si by core-level photoemission spectroscopy. Moreover, we confirmed that the electronic band structures of the NWs along the NW direction are different from those perpendicular to the NWs and the surface state induced by the Pt(2)Si NWs was observed with a small density of state using the angle-resolved photoemission spectra.     

Multiple aromaticity and antiaromaticity in silicon clusters.

A series of silicon clusters containing four atoms but with different charge states (Si4(2+), Si4, Si4(2-), and NaSi4-) were studied by photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Structure evolution and chemical bonding in this series were interpreted in terms of aromaticity and antiaromaticity, which allowed the prediction of how structures of the four-atom silicon clusters change upon addition or removal of two electrons. It is shown that Si4(2+) is square-planar, analogous to the recently discovered aromatic Al4(2-) cluster. Upon of two electrons, neutral Si4 becomes sigma-antiaromatic and exhibits a rhombus distortion. Adding two more electrons to Si4 leads to two energetically close structures of Si4(2-): either a double antiaromatic parallelogram structure or an aromatic system with a butterfly distortion. Because of the electronic instability of doubly charged Si4(2-), a stabilizing cation (Na+) was used to produce Si4(2-) in the gas phase in the form of Na+[Si4(2-)], which was characterized experimentally by photoelectron spectroscopy. Multiple antiaromaticity in the parallelogram Na+[Si4(2-)] species is highly unusual.     

HP-Ca2Si5N8--a new high-pressure nitridosilicate: synthesis, structure, luminescence, and DFT calculations

HP-Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) was obtained by means of high-pressure high-temperature synthesis utilizing the multianvil technique (6 to 12 GPa, 900 to 1200 degrees C) starting from the ambient-pressure phase Ca(2)Si(5)N(8). HP-Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (Pbca (no. 61), a=1058.4(2), b=965.2(2), c=1366.3(3) pm, V=1395.7(7)x10(6) pm(3), Z=8, R1=0.1191). The HP-Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) structure is built up by a three-dimensional, highly condensed nitridosilicate framework with N([2]) as well as N([3]) bridging. Corrugated layers of corner-sharing SiN(4) tetrahedra are interconnected by further SiN(4) units. The Ca(2+) ions are situated between these layers with coordination numbers 6+1 and 7+1, respectively. HP-Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) as well as hypothetical orthorhombic o-Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) (isostructural to the ambient-pressure modifications of Sr(2)Si(5)N(8) and Ba(2)Si(5)N(8)) were studied as high-pressure phases of Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) up to 100 GPa by using density functional calculations. The transition pressure into HP-Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) was calculated to 1.7 GPa, whereas o-Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) will not be adopted as a high-pressure phase. Two different decomposition pathways of Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) (into Ca(3)N(2) and Si(3)N(4) or into CaSiN(2) and Si(3)N(4)) and their pressure dependence were examined. It was found that a pressure-induced decomposition of Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) into CaSiN(2) and Si(3)N(4) is preferred and that Ca(2)Si(5)N(8) is no longer thermodynamically stable under pressures exceeding 15 GPa. Luminescence investigations (excitation at 365 nm) of HP-Ca(2)Si(5)N(8):Eu(2+) reveal a broadband emission peaking at 627 nm (FWHM=97 nm), similar to the ambient-pressure phase Ca(2)Si(5)N(8):Eu(2+).     

High-resolution soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies and scanning auger microscopy studies of the air oxidation of alkylated silicon(111) surfaces

High-resolution soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to investigate the oxidation of alkylated silicon(111) surfaces under ambient conditions. Silicon(111) surfaces were functionalized through a two-step route involving radical chlorination of the H-terminated surface followed by alkylation with alkylmagnesium halide reagents. After 24 h in air, surface species representing Si(+), Si(2+), Si(3+), and Si(4+) were detected on the Cl-terminated surface, with the highest oxidation state (Si(4+)) oxide signal appearing at +3.79 eV higher in energy than the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak. The growth of silicon oxide was accompanied by a reduction in the surface-bound Cl signal. After 48 h of exposure to air, the Cl-terminated Si(111) surface exhibited 3.63 equivalent monoleyers (ML) of silicon oxides. In contrast, after exposure to air for 48 h, CH(3)-, C(2)H(5)-, or C(6)H(5)CH(2)-terminated Si surfaces displayed <0.4 ML of surface oxide, and in most cases only displayed approximately 0.20 ML of oxide. This oxide was principally composed of Si(+) and Si(3+) species with peaks centered at +0.8 and +3.2 eV above the bulk Si 2p(3/2) peak, respectively. The silicon 2p SXPS peaks that have previously been assigned to surface Si-C bonds did not change significantly, either in binding energy or in relative intensity, during such air exposure. Use of a high miscut-angle surface (7 degrees vs < or =0.5 degrees off of the (111) surface orientation) yielded no increase in the rate of oxidation nor change in binding energy of the resultant oxide that formed on the alkylated Si surfaces. Scanning Auger microscopy indicated that the alkylated surfaces formed oxide in isolated, inhomogeneous patches on the surface.     

In situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic and density-functional studies of Si atoms adsorbed on a C60 film

The interaction between C(60) and Si atoms has been investigated for Si atoms adsorbed on a C(60) film using in situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density-functional (DFT) calculations. Analysis of the Si 2p core peak identified three kinds of Si atoms adsorbed on the film: silicon suboxides (SiO(x)), bulk Si crystal, and silicon atoms bound to C(60). Based on the atomic percent ratio of silicon to carbon, we estimated that there was approximately one Si atom bound to each C(60) molecule. The Si 2p peak due to the Si-C(60) interaction demonstrated that a charge transfer from the Si atom to the C(60) molecule takes place at room temperature, which is much lower than the temperature of 670 K at which the charge transfer was observed for C(60) adsorbed on Si(001) and (111) clean surfaces [Sakamoto et al., Phys. Rev. B 60, 2579 (1999)]. The number of electrons transferred between the C(60) molecule and Si atom was estimated to be 0.59 based on XPS results, which is in good agreement with the DFT result of 0.63 for a C(60)Si with C(2v) symmetry used as a model cluster. Furthermore, the shift in binding energy of both the Si 2p and C 1s core peaks before and after Si-atom deposition was experimentally obtained to be +2.0 and -0.4 eV, respectively. The C(60)Si model cluster provides the shift of +2.13 eV for the Si 2p core peak and of -0.28 eV for the C 1s core peak, which are well corresponding to those experimental results. The covalency of the Si-C(60) interaction was also discussed in terms of Mulliken overlap population between them.     

Partial halogenation of cyclic and branched perhydropentasilanes

The perhydropentasilanes (H(3)Si)(4)Si and Si(5)H(10) were chlorinated with SnCl(4) to give chlorohydropentasilanes without destruction of the Si-Si backbone. Tetrachloroneopentasilane (ClH(2)Si)(4)Si (2) was prepared in high yield from (H(3)Si)(4)Si and 3.5 equiv of SnCl(4), while Si(5)H(10) and an equimolar amount of SnCl(4) afforded a mixture of ～60% of ClSi(5)H(9) (1) with polychlorinated cyclopentasilanes and unreacted starting material, which could not be separated by distillation. The selective monochlorination of Si(5)H(10) was achieved starting from MesSi(5)Cl(9) (3; Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) or TBDMP-Si(5)Cl(9) (4; TBDMP = 4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethylphenyl). 3 or 4 was successfully hydrogenated with LiAlH(4) to give MesSi(5)H(9) (6) or TBDMP-Si(5)H(9) (7), which finally gave 1 along with aryl-H and Si(5)H(10) after treatment with an excess of liquid anhydrous HCl. All compounds were characterized by standard spectroscopic techniques. For Si-H derivatives, the coupled (29)Si NMR spectra were analyzed in detail to obtain an unequivocal structural assignment. The molecular structures of 2-4 were further confirmed by X-ray crystallography.     

Bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amino]silylene,an unstable divalent silicon compound

The title compound, [(Me3Si)2N]2Si: (1), was prepared by the reduction of [(Me3Si)2N]2SiBr2 (2) with potassium graphite at -78 degrees C. Unlike the corresponding germanium and tin compounds, 1 is unstable, but it can be studied in solution at low temperatures. The 29Si NMR chemical shift of 1 measured at -20 degrees C was 223.9 ppm, in good agreement with a value obtained from model calculations of 233 ppm. Reaction of solutions of 1 with methanol or phenol gave the trapping products expected for the silylene, [(Me3Si)2N]2Si(H)OR (R = CH3, C6H5).     

Characterization of silica dissolved in sodium chloride solution using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

The chemical species of silica dissolved in sodium chloride (NaCl) solution were identified by means of fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (negative ion mode). The concentration of silica in 0.1 M NaCl solution is < 0.6 mmol dm(-3) (mM) and application to the identification of the silicate species at low concentrations such as in natural waters level is also possible. An apparent peak at m/z 95, which corresponds to SiO(OH)(3)(-) in 0.1 M NaCl solution, was not confirmed owing to the interference of the peaks corresponding to NaCl(2)(-); however, peaks for complexes such as Si(OH)(2)O(2)Na(-), Si(2)(OH)(5)O(2)(-), Si(2)(OH)(4)O(3)Na(-), Si(2)(OH)(3)O(4)Na(2)(-), Si(2)(OH)(2)O(5)Na(3)(-), Si(4)(OH)(7)O(5)(-), Si(4)(OH)(6)O(6)Na(-) and Si(4)(OH)(5)O(7)Na(2)(-) were detected. The existence of the trimer and its Na(+) complexes such as Si(3)(OH)(7)O(3)(-), Si(3)(OH)(6)O(4)Na(-) and Si(3)(OH)(5)O(5)Na(2)(-) was not clearly shown. These complexes can be confirmed not only in the form of the anion itself (e.g. Si(2)(OH)(5)O(2)(-)), but also in the form of some complexes with sodium ions, such as Si(2)(OH)(4)O(2)Na(-). Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The first alkene-platinum-silyl complexes: lifting the hydrosilation mechanism shroud with long-lived precatalytic intermediates and true pt catalysts

The synthesis, characterization, and exploratory chemistry of two classes of alkene-platinum-silyl complexes, which have been postulated as hydrosilation intermediates, are described in this report. The unique dimeric complexes 1, [R(3)Si(mu-Cl)(eta(2)-COD)Pt](2) [R(3)Si = Et(3)Si, MeCl(2)Si, Me(2)ClSi, "(EtO)(3)Si", PhMe(2)Si, and (Me(3)SiO)Me(2)Si; COD = cycloocta-1,5-diene], and the bis-silyl complexes 2, (eta(4)-COD)Pt(SiR(3))(2) (R(3)Si = Cl(3)Si, MeCl(2)Si, Me(2)ClSi, and PhMe(2)Si), are formed from the sequential reaction of 2 and 4 equiv of the corresponding hydrosilanes, respectively, with Pt(COD)Cl(2) in the presence of a small excess of COD. Complexes 1 are stable for many days in solution at room temperature but decompose via slow elimination of chlorosilane. Some of the bis-silyl compounds 2 are stable for extended periods under inert atmosphere and especially below 0 degrees C, either in the solid state or in solution (in the presence of a small excess of free COD). Complexes 2 display catalytic activity as discrete, molecular, and mononuclear species for hydrosilation and isomerization reactions. Compound 2c (R(3)Si = MeCl(2)Si) was fully characterized via multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure analysis. The facile H-transfer rather than Si-transfer to bound COD provides experimental support for the sequence of insertive steps in the Chalk-Harrod catalytic cycle, at least for Pt-catalyzed hydrosilation.