Reversible Complexation of Ethylene by a Silylene under Ambient Conditions

Treatment of toluene solutions of the silylenes Si­(SArMe6)2 (ArMe6 = C6H3-2,6­(C6H2-2,4,6-Me3)2, 1) or Si­(SArPri4)2 (ArPri4 = C6H3-2,6­(C6H3-2,6-Pri2)2, 2) with excess ethylene gas affords the siliranes (ArMe6S)2SiCH2CH2 (3) or (ArPri4S)2SiCH2CH2 (4). Silirane 4 evolves ethylene spontaneously at room temperature in toluene solution. A Van’t Hoff analysis by variable-temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy showed that ΔGassn = −24.9(2.5) kJ mol–1 for 4. A computational study of the reaction mechanism using a model silylene Si­(SPh)2 (Ph = C6H5) was in harmony with the Van’t Hoff analysis, yielding ΔGassn = −24 kJ mol–1 and an activation energy ΔG⧧ = 54 kJ mol–1.