Reaction of Titanacyclobutene–Silacyclobutene Fused-Ring Complexes with Nitriles via Formal Insertion of the C–N Triple Bond of Nitrile into the Silacyclobutene Ring

The
reaction of titanacyclobutene–silacyclobutene fused-ring complexes
with nitriles was investigated. Formal insertion of the C–N
triple bond of nitriles into the silacyclobutene ring was observed,
affording their corresponding titanacyclobutene and six-membered azasilacycle
fused-ring complexes. This reaction pattern with nitriles is totally
different from that of their analogous zirconacyclobutene–silacyclobutene
fused-ring complexes. The size effect of the central metals (Ti vs
Zr) is considered as the major reason for the different reaction patterns.