Structure and stabilities of the isomers of SiB2H4

Ab initio quantum-mechanical methods at the HF/6–31G*, MP2/6–31G* and MP2/6–31G* levels are used to study the relative stabilities of the isomers of SiB₂H₄. Isomers obtained using the analogy between trivalent boron and divalent silicon are calculated to be more stable compared to isomers where carbon is replaced by the isovalent silicon. 2π aromaticity and the preference of silicon for lower valency control the relative stabilities of SiB₂H₄ isomers.