[2+2+1] Cycloadditions of Bis(dialkylamino)acetylenes with SiI2(Idip): Syntheses and Reactivity Studies of Unprecedented 2,3,4,5-Tetraamino-1H-siloles

A novel method for the synthesis of 1H-siloles is presented. It involves a [2+2+1] cycloaddition of the ynediamines R2N-C C-NR2 (R=Me, Et) with SiI2(Idip) (Idip=1,3bis( 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) imidazolin-2-ylidene) to afford the orange-colored, highly water-sensitive 1,1-diiodo-2,3,4,5-tetraamino- 1H-siloles SiI2{C-4(NR2)(4)} (1-I: R=Me; 2-I R=Et). Treatment of 2-I with an excess of SiBr4 afforded after I/Br exchange the 1,1-dibromo-1H-silole SiB(r)2{C-4(NEt2)(4)} (2-Br). The 1H-siloles 1-I, 2-I, and 2-Br were fully characterized and their molecular structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds feature a slightly twisted five-membered silacyclopenta-2,4-diene ring and a double/single C-C bond alternation in the diene fragment. Reaction of 2-I with the N-heterocyclic carbene IMe4 (IMe4=1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazolin- 2-ylidene) leads, after displacement of the iodide groups, to the unprecedented diiodide salt [Si(IMe4) 2{C-4(NEt2)(4)}](I) 2 (3), containing a 1H-silole dication with a four-coordinate Si-IV center. The crystal structure of 3 reveals similar bonding characteristics for the dicationic 1H-silole to those of the neutral 1H-siloles 1-I-2-Br. Two-electron reduction of 3 with C8K affords, after elimination of one IMe4 group, the thermolabile, carbene-stabilized 1-silacyclopentadien-1-ylidene Si{C-4(NEt2)(4)}(IMe4) (4), which was characterized by elemental analysis and H-1, C-13{1H}, and Si-29{H-1} NMR spectroscopies.