Thermal equilibrium between a lattice-framework disilene and the corresponding silylene

The existence of the thermal equilibrium between 2,3,4,6,7,8,2',3',4',6',7',8'-dodeca-tert-butyl[5,5']-bi{1,5-disilatricyclo[4.2.0.0(1,4)]octylidene}-2,7,2',7'-tetraene and the corresponding silylene was revealed by trapping experiments. The equilibrium was investigated by DFT calculations.