Proximity enforced oxidative addition of a strong unpolar σ-Si-Si bond at rhodium(i)

The new bidentate bisphosphino ligand (5-Ph2P-Ace-6-SiMe2)(2) (1) binds rhodium(i) chloride and brings it into close proximity to a strong unpolar sigma-Si-Si bond, in which it immediately inserts. In the spirocyclic Rh(iii) product of the oxidative addition, (5-Ph2P-Ace-6-SiMe2)(2)RhCl (2), the two Si atoms are still close enough to engage in weak non-covalent interactions.