Towards tetrasilabicyclo[1.1.0]butane: reductive coupling of 1-t-butyl-2,2-dimesityl-1,1,2-trichlorodisilane

Reductive coupling of 1-$\text{t}$-butyl-2,2-dimesityl-1,1,2-trichlorodisilane employing Li-naphthalenide furnishes, on oxygenation or hydrolysis of the reaction mixture, products ($\text{8}$-$\text{11}$) that may arise from insertion of oxygen into or the addition of water across the Si-Si bonds of 1,3-di-$\text{t}$-butyl-2,2,4,4-tetramesityltetrasilabicyclo-1.1.0]butane ($\text{3}$).