Selective C-H Bond Activation of 1,2-Dicarba-closo-dodecaborane by the Donor-Stabilized Silylene Bis[N,N′-diisopropylbenzamidinato(-)]silicon(II)

Reaction of donor-stabilized silylene 1 (which is three-coordinate in the solid state and four-coordinate in solution) with 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane affords neutral six-coordinate silicon(IV) complex 2 with a carboranyl ligand through selective C-cluster-H bond activation. Compound 2 undergoes selective Si-C bond cleavage with acetonitrile to form neutral six-coordinate silicon(IV) complex 3 with a cyanomethyl ligand and 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane. Compounds 2 and 3 were characterized by crystal structure analyses and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in the solid state and in solution. In addition, compound 2 was studied by DFT calculations.