Intercepting the Disilene-Silylsilylene Equilibrium

The equilibrium between disilenes (R2Si=SiR2) and their silylsilylene (R3Si-SiR) isomers has previously been inferred but not directly observed, except in the case of the parent system H2Si=SiH2. Here, we report a new method to prepare base-coordinated disilenes with hydride substituents. By varying the bulk of the coordinating base and other silicon substituents, we have been able to control the rearrangement of disilene adducts to their silylsilylene tautomers. Remarkably, 1,2 migration of a trimethylsilyl group is preferred over hydrogen migration. A DFT study of the reaction mechanism provides a rationale for the observed reactivity and detailed information on the bonding situation in base-stabilized disilenes.