Facile Bond Activation of Small Molecules by an Acyclic Imino(silyl)silylene

The activation of small molecules by silylenes bearing unique electronic properties has been well established in the past few decades. Here, we disclose the reactivity study of acyclic imino(silyl)silylene 1 with an N-heterocyclic imine ligand (NHI) towards various small molecules. Silylene 1 undergoes facile activation of gaseous molecules like dihydrogen, ethylene, and carbon dioxide. While the cycloaddition of carbonyl compounds to 1 was shown as a straightforward synthetic approach of oxasilacycles, reaction with silane as well as borane led to the corresponding E-H (E=Si, B) insertion products. Moreover, reaction with heavier chalcogens allow the isolation of neutral three-coordinate silicon-heavier chalcogen double bond complexes.