Nickel-assisted complete cleavage of CO by a silylene/siliconoid hybrid under formation of an Si[double bond, length as m-dash]C enol ether bridge

Abstract

Reaction of a silylene-functionalized Si6 siliconoid with CO in the presence of catalytic quantities of a nickel(0) complex results in the complete cleavage of the CO triple bond, but preserves the Si6 scaffold with an exohedrally incorporated Si[double bond, length as m-dash]C enol ether bridge. The uncompromised cluster core emphasizes the role of the so-called benzpolarene motif as the energetic silicon pendants of benzene in carbon chemistry.