An acyclic imino-substituted silylene: synthesis, isolation, and its facile conversion into a zwitterionic silaimine

A new type of Si(II): A novel silylene stabilized by a Cp* and an imidazolin-2-iminato ligand has been prepared using two different methods. The X-ray crystallographic structure shows that the silicon(II) center is coordinated to an η(2) -Cp* ligand and the nitrogen atom of an imidazolin-2-iminato ligand. This silylene easily reacts with B(C(6) F(5) )(3) to give a stable borane adduct having a zwitterionic resonance structure.