Kinetic hydricity of silane hydrides in the gas phase

Herein, gas phase studies of the kinetic hydricity of a series of silane hydrides are described. An understanding of hydricity is important as hydride reactions figure largely in many processes, including organic synthesis, photoelectrocatalysis, and hydrogen activation. We find that hydricity trends in the gas phase differ from those in solution, revealing the effect of solvent. Calculations and further experiments, including H/D studies, were used to delve into the reactivity and structure of the reactants. These studies also represent a first step toward systematically understanding nucleophilicity and electrophilicity in the absence of solvent.