Intramolecularly donor-stabilized silenes: Part 5. Generation and conversion of 1-[2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)phenyl]- and 1-(8-alkoxynaphthyl)-1,2,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)silenes

1-(8-Methoxy-1-naphthyl)-1,2,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)silene (10) and the 1-[2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)phenyl]-1,2,2-tris(trimethylsilyl)silenes (12a-d) were generated by the reaction of (dichloromethyl)tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (1) with two molar equivalents of 8-methoxy-1-naphthyllithium or 2,6-bis(alkoxymethyl)phenyllithium (8a-d), respectively, but proved to be unstable. 10 was trapped with excess of the applied naphthyllithium reagent to give 1,1-bis(8-methoxy-1-naphthyl)-1-[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (11); and 12a-d underwent spontaneous conversions and formed two types of substituted 2-oxa-1-silaindane derivatives (13a,b and 14b-d). Whereas silenes with an intramolecular amine coordination are thermally stable compounds which can be isolated, the intramolecular coordination of an ether group to the electrophilic silene silicon atom does not provide a comparable stabilization to the SiC system and the respective derivatives generated were converted into resultant products.     

A combined experimental and theoretical study of the kinetics and mechanism of the addition of alcohols to electronically stabilized silenes: a new mechanism for the addition of alcohols to the Si=C bond

The stabilized silene 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyl)-2-adamantylidenesilane (4) has been generated by photolysis of a novel trisilacyclobutane derivative in various solvents and studied directly by kinetic UV spectrophotometry. Silene 4 decays with second-order kinetics in degassed hexane solution at 23 degrees C (k/epsilon = 8.6 x 10(-6) cm s(-1)) due to head-to-head dimerization. It reacts rapidly with oxygen [k(25 degrees C) approximately 3 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1)] but approximately 10 orders of magnitude more slowly with methanol (MeOH) than other silenes that have been studied previously. The data are consistent with a mechanism involving reaction with the hydrogen-bonded dimer of the alcohol, (MeOH)(2) (k = 40 +/- 3 M(-1) s(-1); k(H)/k(D) = 1.7 +/- 0.2). The stable analogue of silene 4, 1-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-1-trimethylsilyl-2-adamantylidenesilane (5), reacts approximately 50 times more slowly, but via the same mechanism. The mechanism for addition of water and methanol (ROH; R = H, Me) to 4, 5, and the model compound 1,1-bis(silyl)-2,2-dimethylsilene (3a) has been studied computationally at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) and MP2/6-31G(d) levels of theory. Hydrogen-bonded complexes with monomeric and dimeric methanol, in which the Si=C bond plays the role of nucleophile, have been located computationally for all three silenes. Reaction pathways have been characterized for reaction of the three silenes with monomeric and dimeric ROH and reveal significantly lower barriers for reaction with the dimeric form of the alcohol in each case. The calculations indicate that 5 should be approximately 40-fold less reactive toward dimeric MeOH than 4, in excellent agreement with the approximately 50-fold difference in the experimental rate constants for reaction in hexane solution.     

Addition of cyclopropyl alkynes to a Brook silene: definitive evidence for a biradical intermediate

The addition of three newly developed mechanistic probes, (trans-2-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, (trans,trans-2-methoxy-3-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, and (trans,trans-2-methoxy-1-methyl-3-phenylcyclopropyl)ethyne, 1a-c, to a Brook silene, 2-tert-butyl-2-trimethylsiloxy-1,1-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-silene, 10, was examined. When alkyne 1a was added to silene 10 products derived from a formal ene reaction were obtained. When alkynes 1b-c were added to silene 10, in addition to the typical silacyclobutenes, a variety of silacycloheptenes were obtained in which the cyclopropyl ring had clearly opened. Formal ene-addition products were also produced from the addition of 1b to 10. Based on the relative positions of the phenyl and methoxy substituents within the seven-membered ring of the silacycloheptenes and the known behavior of the alkyne probes under both radical and ionic conditions, it was concluded that a biradical intermediate was formed during the addition of alkynes 1b-c to silene 10. In the addition of alkynes 1a-b to silene 10, the ene products are most likely formed by a competitive pericyclic reaction. We also present a straightforward method for the unambiguous determination of the regiochemistry of silacyclobutenes derived from the cycloaddition of terminal alkynes to silenes.     

Intramolecularly donor-stabilized silenes: Part 6. The synthesis of 1-[2,6-bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]silenes and their reaction with aromatic aldehydes

The intramolecularly donor-stabilized silenes ArR¹SiC(SiMe₃)₂ (3a–d) (3a: R¹ = Me; 3b: R¹ = t-Bu; 3c: R¹ = Ph; 3d: R¹ = SiMe₃; Ar = 2,6-(Me₂NCH₂)₂C₆H₃) were prepared by treatment of the (dichloromethyl)oligosilanes (Me₃Si)₂R¹Si–CHCl₂ (1a–d), with 2,6-bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyllithium (molar ratio 1:2). For 3c and 3d, X-ray structural analyses were performed indicating that only one dimethylamino group of the tridentate ligand is coordinated to the electrophilic silene silicon atoms, i.e., the central silicon atoms are tetracoordinated. The N → Si donation leads to pyramidalization at the silene silicon atoms; the configuration at the silene carbon atoms is planar. For a chemical characterization 3a and 3c were treated with water to give the silanols ArR¹Si(OH)–CH(SiMe₃)₂ (5a,c). Studies of the reactions of 3a and 3c with benzaldehyde, 4-chlorobenzaldehyde or 4-methoxybenzaldehyde, respectively, revealed an unexpected reaction path leading to the substituted 2-oxa-1-sila-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenes 12a, 12c, 13 and 14. Both 12a and 12c were structurally characterized by X-ray analyses. The formation of these six-membered cyclic compounds, which is discussed in detail, gives support to a dipolar mechanism for the general reaction of silenes with carbonyl derivatives.     

Zwitterionic Silenes: Interesting Goals for Synthesis?

Properties of silenes, as a function of increased reversal of the Si=C bond polarity, have been examined through quantum-chemical calculations. The aim of this study was to identify silenes that can be of general interest for organic synthesis. The calculations were carried out primarily with the B3LYP hybrid density functional method, but also with the CASSCF, MP2, MP4(SDQ), and CCSD(T) methods. The study was performed on Z(2)Si=CXY compounds which were divided into three sets that differ with regard to their Si substituents (Z), and with their C substituents (X and Y) varying from weakly to strongly pi-electron-donating groups. The charge at the Si atom (q(Si)) was used as a measure of the extent of reversed silicon-carbon bond polarity. For each of the three sets, the variation in silicon-carbon bond lengths (r(Si=C)) and extent of Si pyramidalization (SigmaSi) in relation to q(Si) follow three separate curves. Silenes with strongly pi-electron-donating X and Y groups are completely described by zwitterionic (reverse-polarized) resonance structures. Such zwitterionic silenes are singly (Si=C) rather than doubly bonded (Si=C), and have a distinctly pyramidal Si atom due to negative charge localization. These silenes also have much lower heats of dimerization than the parent silene. Finally, inversion barriers of zwitterionic silenes are increased by electron-withdrawing substituents, and this enables computational design of silenes with their Si atoms as chiral centers. It is hoped that such chiral zwitterionic silenes can find use in organic synthesis.     

Synthesis of the first kinetically stable dibenzosilafulvene

The first stable dibenzosilafulvene, 9-{[8-(dimethylaminomethyl)-1-naphthyl]phenylsil-1-ylium}fluoren-9-ide (7a), was obtained in one step from 9-fluorenyllithium and chloro[8-(dimethylaminomethyl)-1-naphthyl]phenylsilane as a stable solvate with THF. The structure of the zwitterionic compound7a was established by¹H,¹³C, and²⁹Si NMR in solution and in the solid state. The reactions of compound7a with crotonaldehyde, ethanol, and triethylethylidenephosphorane are described. The data on the synthesis of alkoxy- and alkylthiochloro-9-fluorenylsilanes and their phosphonium salts are given. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 486–491, March, 1998.     

The Synthesis and Dimerization of Transient 1-Silabutadienes

3-Methyl-1-tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl-2-butenol(1) ( 6 ) and (E)-3-Phenyl-1-tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl-2-propenol(1) ( 7 ) were prepared by the reaction of tris(trimethylsilyl)silyllithium ( 5 ) with 3,3-dimethylacrolein and (E)-cinnamaldehyde, resp. The alcohols 6 and 7 proved to be suitable precursors for the generation of the transient 1-silabutadienes (Me₃Si)₂Si = CHCH = CR¹R² 8 and 9 ( 8 : R¹ = R² = Me; 9 : R¹ = H, R² = Ph) following the principle of the modified Peterson reaction. Thus, 6 and 7 after deprotonation with excess MeLi in ether at low temperatures eliminated trimethylsilanolate and gave 8 and 9 , which were trapped by the excess organolithium reagent undergoing nucleophilic 1,2- or 1,4-addition reactions. In the absence of scavengers, e.g. when 8 and 9 were generated by treatment of 6 and 7 with stoichiometric quantities of MeLi in ether, the 1-silabutadienes dimerize in a [2 + 2] head-to-head fashion to give the 1,2-disilacyclobutanes 17 and 18 , resp., besides polymeric material. Treatment of the alcohol 6 with MeLi in tetrahydrofuran caused a 1,3-Si,O-trimethylsilyl shift affording the alkoxysilane (Me₃Si)₂SiH? CH(OSiMe₃)CH = CMe₂ 19 .     

Evidence for formation of silenes strongly influenced by reversed Si[double bond]C bond polarity

[reaction: see text] Transient silenes that are strongly influenced by reversed Si[double bond]C bond polarization are formed upon heating of tris(trimethylsilyl)silylamides. The silenes are trapped with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene to quantitatively yield only one of the possible diastereomers of the functionalized cyclic allylsilanes.     

Reaction of Hexamethyldisilazane with Borane in Tetrahydrofuran

Hexamethyldisilazane 1 reacts with borane in tetrahydrofuran (THF? BH₃, 2 ) first by formation of an adduct (Me₃Si)₂NH? BH₃ ( 3 ), and then either to the N,N-bis-(trimethylsilyl)-μ-aminodiborane 5 or to the mixture of 5 and N-trimethylsilyl-μ-aminodiborane(6) 6 , depending on the reaction conditions. The compounds 5 and 6 can be quantitatively converted to the N,N′,N″-tris(trimethylsilyl)borazine 4 . Three intermediates can be identified, namely N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)borane 7 , N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)amino(N′-trimethylsilylamino)borane 8 and N-trimethylsilylaminoborane-trimer. All products and intermediates were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and coupling constant ¹J(²⁹Si, ¹⁵N) were measured from ²⁹Si NMR spectra by using the Hahn-echo-extended (HEED) INEPT pulse sequence.     

Effect of geminal substitution at silicon on 1-sila- and 1,3-disilacyclobutanes' strain energies, their 2+2 cycloreversion enthalpies, and Si=C pi-bond energies in silenes.

To evaluate the effect of geminal substitution at silicon on 1-sila- and 1,3-disilacyclobutanes' strain energies, their 2+2 cycloreversion enthalpies, and Si=C pi-bond energies in silenes, an ab initio MO study of silenes, R2Si=CH2 (1), 1-silacyclobutanes, cyclo-R2Si(CH2)3 (2), and 1,3-disilacyclobutanes, cyclo-(R2SiCH2)2 (3), was performed using the level of theory denoted MP4/TZ(d)//MP2/6-31G(d) (TZ means the 6-311G(d) basis set for elements of the second period and hydrogen, and the McLean-Chandler (12s,9p)/[6s,5p](d) basis set for the third period elements). In the series R = H, CH3, SiH3, CH3O, NH2, Cl, F, the growth of the reaction enthalpies and strain energies is proportional to the substituents' electronegativities. 2+2 cycloreversion of 2 is endothermic by 40.6-63.1 kcal/mol, whereas that of 3 is endothermic by 72.7-114.2 kcal/mol. On going from a silicon to a fluorine substituent at the sp2-hybridized silicon atom, the pi-bond energy in 1 weakens by 11.3 kcal/mol, and the Si=C bond length shortens by 0.053 A. The effect of substituents' electronegativities at the double-bonded silicon atom in silenes is formulated as follows: the higher electronegativity, the shorter and the weaker the Si=C pi-bond. The latter is rationalized in terms of more strained geometry resulting from the energetic cost for planarizing the R2SiC moiety. The enthalpies of the ring-opening reaction are 68.0-80.1 kcal/mol (a cleavage of the Si-C bond in 3), 65.0-76.4 kcal/mol (a cleavage of the Si-C bond in 2), and 58.0-64.9 kcal/mol (a cleavage of the C-C bond in 2). The pronounced difference in the enthalpies of 2+2 cycloreversion of 1-sila- and 1,3-disilacyclobutanes is mainly due to the difference in the enthalpies of diradicals' decomposition. The decomposition of diradicals resulting from a cleavage of C-C and Si-C bonds in 2 is exothermic by 24.3-3.3 kcal/mol (apart from the difluoro derivative which is endothermic by 5.1 kcal/mol) and 27.0-13.3 kcal/mol, respectively. The decomposition of a 1,4-diradical resulting from ring opening of 3, apart from the disilyl derivative, is the endothermic process for which the enthalpy varies from 10.6 to 40.4 kcal/mol.     

Acyl- und Alkylidenphosphane. XXIV. (N,N-Dimethylthiocarbamoyl)trimethylsilylphosphane und 1,2-Di(tert-butyl)-3-dimethylamino-1-thio-4-trimethylsilylsulfano-1λ5,2λ3-diphosphet-3-en

Acyl- and Alkylidenephosphines. XXIV. (N,N-Dimethylthiocarbamoyl)trimethylsilyl-phosphines and 1.2-Di(tert-butyl)-3-dimethylamino-1-thio-4-trimethylsilylsulfano-1λ⁵, 2λ³-diphosphet-3-ene In contrast to bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphines R? P[? Si(CH₃)₃]₂ 1 {R ? H₃C a ; (H₃C)₃C b ; H₅H₆ c ; H₁₁C₉ d ; (H₃C)₃Si e }, the more nucleophilic lithium trimethylsilylphosphides 4 react with N,N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl chloride already at ?78°C to give (N,N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl)trimethylsilylphosphines 2 . Working up the reaction, a dismutation of the mesityl derivative 2d is observed, whereas the tert-butyl compound 2b dissolved in toluene, eliminates dimethyl(trimethylsilyl)amine to form 1,2-di(tert-butyl)-3-dimethylamino-1-thio-4-trimethylsilyl-sulfano- 1λ⁵, 2λ³-diphosphet-3-ene 6b , nearly quantitatively within several days at +20°C.     

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.     

Striking stability of a substituted silicon(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and the facile Si-Me bond cleavage without a transition metal catalyst

Silicon(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (LSiN(SiMe(3))(2), L= PhC(NtBu)(2)) (2) has been synthesized by the reaction of LSiHCl(2) with KN(SiMe(3))(2) in 1:2 molar ratio in high yield where 1 equiv of the latter functions as a dehydrochlorinating agent. 2 exhibits a high stability up to 154 °C and can be handled in open air for a short period of time without any appreciable decomposition. An amazing five-membered cyclic silene (3) results from the cleavage of one Si-Me bond of 2 with an adamantyl phosphaalkyne. 3 is the first example of a heavy cyclopentene derivative which consists of four different elements, C, N, Si, and P. Both compounds are characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, EI-mass spectrometry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Transient Silenes as Versatile Synthons – The Reaction of Dichloromethyl‐tris(trimethylsilyl)silane with Organolithium Reagents

Treatment of dichloromethyl‐tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (Me₃Si)₃Si–CHCl₂ ( 1 ), prepared by the reaction of tris(trimethylsilyl)silane with chloroform in presence of potassium tertbutoxide, with organolithium reagents (molar ratio 1 : 3) affords the bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl‐disilanes Me₃SiSiR₂–CH(SiMe₃)₂ ( 12 a–d ) ( a : R = Me, b : R = n‐Bu, c : R = Ph, d : R = Mes). The formation of 12 a–d is discussed as proceeding through an exceptional series of isomerization and addition reactions involving intermediate silyl substituted carbenoids and transient silenes. The carbenoid (Me₃Si)₂PhSi–C(SiMe₃)LiCl ( 8 c ) is moderately stable at low temperature and was trapped with water to give (Me₃Si)₂PhSi–CH(SiMe₃)Cl ( 9 c ) and with chlorotrimethylsilane affording (Me₃Si)₂PhSi–CCl(SiMe₃)₂ ( 7 c ). For 12 d an X‐ray crystal structure analysis was performed, which characterizes the compound as a highly congested silane with bond parameters significantly deviating from standard values.     

Synthesis and characterization of a 2, 5-Bis(trimethylsilyl)-substituted Bis(1, 1′-silolide) dianion

A novel silyl-substituted bis(1, 1′-silolide) dianion has been isolated and characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis for the first time. The ¹H, ²⁹Si, and ¹³C NMR spectra show significant delocalization of the negative charges to the silole ring. X-ray crystallography revealed equalized C?C distances and DFT calculation also indicates for significant aromaticity. Reaction with trimethylchlorosilane gave the expected bis(1, 2, 5-tris(trimethylsilyl)-3, 4-diphenyl-silacyclopentadienyl).     

Trimethylsilylverbindungen der Vb-Elemente. VII. Die Kristallstrukturen von Lithium-bis(trimethylsilyl)bismutid · DME und Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)dibismutan sowie Bemerkungen zur Kristallstruktur des Bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ditellans

Trimethylsilyl Derivatives of Vb Elements. VII. Crystal Structures of Lithium Bis(trimethylsilyl)bismuthide · DME and of Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)dibismuthane as well as Some Comments on the Crystal Structure of Bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ditellane Colourless lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)bismuthide · DME

1 1,2-Dimethoxyethan (DME); Tetrahydrofuran (THF)

1 and green, metallic lustrous tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)dibismuthane 2 crystallize isotopic to their antimony homologues [1, 2]. As it is shown by crystal structure determinations { 1 : ?90°C; I 4 2d; a = 1017,3(4); c = 3738,0(26) pm; Z = 8; R _w = 0,065; 2 : + 20°C; P2 ₁ /c; a = 680,9(4); b = 1704,8(13); c = 1197,9 (10) pm; β = 119,46(6)°; Z = 2; R _w = 0,084} both compounds form chains which in the case of bismuthide 1 are built up as screws of alternating bismuth and lithium atoms; bonding further to two trimethylsilyl groups or to the chelating DME ligand both atoms gain coordination number 4 {Li? Bi 292(3); Bi? Si 263.3(14) pm; Bi? Li? Bi 132(1); Li? Bi? Li 148(1); φ(Li? Bi? Li? Bi) 83°}. In the case of dibismuthane 2 the centrosymmetric molecules are strung, their Bi-Bi groups forming nearly linear zigzag chains with shortened intermolecular contact distances {Bi-Bi 303.5(3); Bi …? Bi 380.4(3); Bi? Si 268 pm; Bi? Bi …? Bi 169; Bi? Bi? Si 97.4(5) and 92.0(5)°}. Structure and properties of 2 are compared with those of similar compounds; the crystal structure of brown, green metallic lustrous bis(4-methoxyphenyl)ditellane 5 already published by Ludlow and McCarthy[3] is reinvestigated with respect to very short intermolecular Te…?Te contacts.     

Radical Polymerization of the Silene (Me3Si)2SiCR2 by Hydrogen Transfer from a Trimethylsilyl Group

The silene (Me₃Si)₂Si?Ad is polymerized to produce a polycarbosilane with an unusual Si? Si? C repeating backbone, rather than the Si? C or Si? Si? C? C units expected for olefinic radical polymerization. The polymer structure and the polymerization mechanism (see scheme) were studied by GPC, EPR, and NMR spectroscopy and by trapping experiments.

     

Über die Synthese von Tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl-kalium, -rubidium und -caesium und die Molekülstrukturen zweier Toluolsolvate

About the Synthesis of Tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl Potassium, Rubidium and Cesium and the Molecular Structures of two Toluene Solvates . Solventfree tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl potassium ( 1 ), rubidium ( 2 ) and cesium ( 3 ) are obtained by the reaction of the zink group bis[tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl] derivatives with the appropriate alkali metal in n-pentane. Addition of benzene or toluene to the colourless powders yields deeply coloured solutions. From these solutions single crystals of tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl rubidium—toluene (2/1) ( 2 a ) and tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl cesium—toluene (2/3) ( 3 a ) suitable for X-ray structure analysis are iso- lated [ 2a : orthorhombic; P2₁2₁2₁; a = 1 382.1(3); b = 1 491.7(5); c = 2 106.3(6) pm; Z = 4 (dimers); 3a : orthorhombic; P2₁2₁2₁; a = 2 131.0(6); b = 2 833.1(2); c = 925.2(2) pm; Z = 4 (dimers)]. The central structure moieties are folded four-membered Rb₂Si₂ and Cs₂Si₂ rings, respectively. Small Si? Si? Si angles (100 to 104°) on the one hand and extreme highfield ²⁹Si-NMR shifts of the central silicon atoms on the other hand indicate a strong charge transfer from the alkali metal atoms to the tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl fragments, i.e. mainly ionic interactions between alkalimetal and silicon atoms.     

Silicon-carbon unsaturated compounds: XLII. Novel dimerization of a silene generated from 1-pentamethyldisilanyl-4-(trimethylsilyl)benzene

The photolysis of 1-pentamethyldisilanyl-4-(trimethylsilyl)benzene in the absence of a trapping agent afforded two isomers derived from head-to-head dimerization of the silene arising from a 1,3-trimethylsilyl shift to the phenylene ring.     

Chemistry of siloles. The reactions of siloles with organolithium reagents

The chemical behaviour of siloles toward various organolithium reagents in THF has been investigated. The reaction of 1-methyl-1-(trimethylsilyl)-, 1-phenyl-1-(trimethylsilyl)- and 1,1-bis(trimethylsilyl)dibenzosilole (I, II and III) with a large excess of an alkyllithium such as methyllithium or butyllithium afforded 1,1-dialkyldibenzosiloles in quantitative yields. Treatment of I with an excess of phenyllithium gave a mixture of 1-methyl-1-phenyl- and 1,1-diphenyldibenzosilole quantitatively, while with an excess of tert-butyllithium, I afforded 1,1-dimethyl- and 1-tert-butyl-1-methyldibenzosilole in low yield. Similar treatment of I and II with 1 equiv. of methyl- or butyl-lithium yielded a mixture of the corresponding mono- and dialkyl-substituted dibenzosiloles. 1-Methyl-3,4-diphenyl-1,2,5-tris(trimehylsilyl)silole reacted with methyllithium in THF to give 1,1-dimethyl-3,4-diphenyl-2,2,5-tris(trimethylsilyl) silole. Similarly, both 2,4-diphenyl-1,1,3,5-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)silole and 4,5-diphenyl-1,1,2,3-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)silole with methyllithium afforded two isomers of 1-methyl-2,4-diphenyl-1,2,3,5-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclopent-3-ene in a ratio of 3 : 2 in high yields.