Synthesis of Kinetically Stabilized 1,2-Dihydrodisilenes

Kinetically stabilized 1,2-dihydrodisilenes were successfully
synthesized
and isolated by the introduction of sterically protecting bulky aryl
groups. These 1,2-dihydrodisilenes exhibit distinct SiSi double-bond
character in both solution and the solid state. The Si–H bonds
in these 1,2-dihydrodisilenes exhibit higher s character than those
of typical σ4,λ4-hydrosilanes. Moderate
heating of these 1,2-dihydrodisilenes in solution resulted in their
isomerization to the corresponding trihydrodisilanes, with an intramolecular
hydrogen migration as the rate-determining step.