Neutral pentacoordinate silicon(IV) complexes with silicon-chalcogen (S, Se, Te) bonds

Area of Science:

• Inorganic Chemistry
• Organosilicon Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Pentacoordinate silicon compounds are of interest due to their unique reactivity and structural diversity.
• Chalcogen elements (S, Se, Te) can act as soft donor ligands, influencing the electronic and steric properties of metal complexes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel neutral pentacoordinate silicon(IV) complexes incorporating soft chalcogen ligand atoms.
• To investigate the stability of these complexes in both solid and solution states.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of silicon(IV) complexes with SiS2ONC, SiSeSONC, SiTeSONC, SiSe2O2C, SiSe2S2C, and SiSe4C skeletons.
• Structural characterization using single-crystal X-ray diffraction.
• Spectroscopic analysis via multinuclear solid-state and solution-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis and structural elucidation of six novel pentacoordinate silicon(IV) complexes.
• Demonstrated stability of these complexes in the solid state.
• Confirmed stability of compounds 1-3 and 6-10 in solution, highlighting the role of soft chalcogen ligands.

Conclusions:

• Neutral pentacoordinate silicon(IV) complexes featuring soft chalcogen ligands (S, Se, Te) are attainable and stable.
• The incorporation of soft chalcogen atoms contributes to the robustness of pentacoordinate silicon structures in various environments.