Bisphosphano Silylenes

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Rudolf Pietschnig
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 251873218

In this project we propose a synthetic access to a novel type of silylenes in which the substituents are connected via P(III) atoms to the central low valent silicon atom. This setting is likely to invoke a unique electronic situation with implications for electronic excitation and reactivity of the silylene unit. The phosphorus atoms are ideally located to serve as probe reflecting the bonding situation and interaction between Si and P using 31P-NMR spectroscopy. Moreover, bridging the phosphorus atoms with a 1,1'-ferrocenylene unit, is an attractive way to get the iron atom of the metallocene in proximity to the silylene unit in order to study potential interactions between these centers. For ferrocene based carbenes unusual bonding situations and reactivity patterns towards small molecules have emerged, which shall be extended to the proposed silylenes. The remarkable redox properties of the ferrocene moiety should be well suited to investigate an electron transfer from the >P-Si-P< unit to the iron center upon initial iron oxidation. Ultimately, the results of this fundamental research may open the way to the discovery of novel reactivities and the development of low-energy excitation materials on a long term base.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants