Reaction of an alkyne with dinickel-diphenylsilyl complexes. An emissive disilane formed via the consecutive Si–C and Si–Si bond-making processes

Abstract

[{Ni(dmpe)}₂(μ-SiHPh₂)₂] (dmpe = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane) reacted with PhCCPh to yield fluorescent 1,2-bis{(E)-1,2-diphenylethenyl}-1,1,2,2-tetraphenyldisilanevia addition of the Si–H bond of the ligand to the alkyne and subsequent coupling of the tertiary silyl ligands forming the Si–Si bond.