Silylated silicon-carbonyl complexes as mimics of ubiquitous transition-metal carbonyls.

Transition-metal-carbonyl complexes are common organometallic reagents that feature metal-CO bonds. These complexes have proven to be powerful catalysts for various applications. By contrast, silicon-carbonyl complexes, organosilicon reagents poised to be eco-friendly alternatives for transition-metal carbonyls, have remained largely elusive. They have mostly been explored theoretically and/or through low-temperature matrix isolation studies, but their instability had typically precluded isolation under ambient conditions. Here we present the synthesis, isolation and full characterization of stable silyl-substituted silicon-carbonyl complexes, along with bonding analysis. Initial reactivity investigations showed examples of CO liberation, which could be induced either thermally or photochemically, as well as substitution and functionalization of the CO moiety. Importantly, the complexes exhibit strong Si-CO bonding, with CO→Si σ-donation and Si→CO π-backbonding, which is reminiscent of transition-metal carbonyls. This similarity between the abundant semi-metal silicon and rare transition metals may provide new opportunities for the development of silicon-based catalysis.

Oxidation reactions of a versatile, two-coordinate, acyclic iminosiloxysilylene.

Due to their outstanding reactivity, acyclic silylenes have emerged as attractive organosilicon alternatives for transition metal complexes on the way to metal-free catalysis. However, exploration of their reactivity is still in its infancy, as only a few derivatives of this unique compound class have been isolated so far. Here, we present the results of an extensive reactivity investigation of the previously reported acyclic iminosiloxysilylene 1. Divalent silylene 1 proved to be a versatile building block for a plethora of novel organosilicon compounds. Thus, not only the activation of the rather challenging targets NH3 and P4 could be achieved, but also the conversion into a reactive donor-free silaimine, which itself turned out to be a useful reagent for small molecule activation. In addition, 1 served as an excellent precursor for gaining access to donor-stabilized heavier carbonyl compounds. Our results thus provide further insights into the chemistry of low-valent silicon at the interface between carbon and transition metals.

Bacterial growth dynamics and corresponding metabolite levels in the extraction area of an Austrian sugar beet factory using antimicrobial treatment.

BACKGROUND: During the manufacture of sucrose from sugar beet, different microorganisms originating from the plant material as well as from the soil enter the process. Due to the formation of polysaccharide-based slimes, these contaminants may induce several adverse effects such as filtration problems during juice purification. Certain microorganisms also metabolize sucrose, leading to product losses with financial consequences. To better understand and to prevent these negative effects, the aim of the study was to investigate the evolution of relevant bacterial groups, including their metabolites appearing during the extraction process. For this purpose, one production cycle was monitored to identify the major contamination steps and to clarify how they relate to the processing conditions. Traditionally, different antimicrobial agents such as formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, hypochlorous acid, sodium hypochlorite, and chlorine dioxide have been added to inhibit microbial growth. In the present study, a rosin-based product derived from pine trees was applied as an alternative to those substances. RESULTS: Press water, raw juice, and mid-tower juice were identified as being highly contaminated with bacteria, and processing conditions such as time, temperature and pH level significantly influenced bacterial levels and the corresponding metabolites. Among the contaminants identified, lactic acid bacteria, and mesophilic and thermophilic aerobic bacteria played a dominant role, whereas lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and ethanol were identified as typical metabolites. CONCLUSION: Bacterial growth during production could be reduced by shock dosing of the rosin-based material in the extraction area. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

DMAP-stabilized bis(silyl)silylenes as versatile synthons for organosilicon compounds.

DMAP-stabilized silylenes 1a-c are obtained from the reductive debromination of the corresponding dibromosilanes in the presence of DMAP. Their distinctly different thermal isomerization reactions via C-H bond activation, dearomative ring expansion and silyl migration are discussed. Furthermore, complexes 1 dissociate at elevated temperatures, providing the corresponding free silylenes in situ, which are even capable of single-site activation of H2. Additionally, a potassium-substituted silicon-centered radical 2 is isolated from overreduction of ( t Bu3Si)2SiBr2.

Heavier Carbonyl Olefination: The Sila-Wittig Reaction.

The Wittig reaction is one of the most versatile tools in the repertoire of organic chemists. Thus, a broad variety of carbonyl compounds can be converted to tailor-made alkenes with phosphorus ylides under mild conditions. However, no comparable reaction has been reported for silanones, the silicon congeners of ketones. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the successful application of the Wittig olefination to iminosilylsilanone 1. The selective formation of a series of silenes (R2Si═CR2) via the sila-Wittig reaction revealed an unprecedented approach to otherwise elusive compounds. In addition, the highly reactive and zwitterionic nature of 1 was also susceptible to nucleophilic attacks and cycloaddition reactions by and with the phosphorus ylides. Our results therefore make another important contribution to discovering the differences and similarities between carbon and silicon.

Disilene-Silylene Interconversion: A Synthetically Accessible Acyclic Bis(silyl)silylene.

Silylenes have recently shown fascinating reactivity patterns, which are normally observed almost exclusively for transition-metal complexes. In particular, very reactive representatives are considered to be promising candidates, which may become powerful and economical alternatives for catalytic applications in the future. Here, we present the isolation of an equilibrium mixture consisting of a tetrasilyldisilene and its isomeric bis(silyl)silylene, the first isolable silylene of this type. Preliminary investigations demonstrate the extreme inherent reactivity via facile small-molecule activation even under very mild conditions. Thus, the oxidative addition of challenging targets such as H2 and NH3 was achieved. In addition, by synthesizing donor-stabilized bis(silyl)silylenes we gained further insights into the disilene-silylene rearrangement by 1,2-silyl migrations. Thorough theoretical calculations support the observed experimental results.

NHCs in Main Group Chemistry.

Since the discovery of the first stable N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) in the beginning of the 1990s, these divalent carbon species have become a common and available class of compounds, which have found numerous applications in academic and industrial research. Their important role as two-electron donor ligands, especially in transition metal chemistry and catalysis, is difficult to overestimate. In the past decade, there has been tremendous research attention given to the chemistry of low-coordinate main group element compounds. Significant progress has been achieved in stabilization and isolation of such species as Lewis acid/base adducts with highly tunable NHC ligands. This has allowed investigation of numerous novel types of compounds with unique electronic structures and opened new opportunities in the rational design of novel organic catalysts and materials. This Review gives a general overview of this research, basic synthetic approaches, key features of NHC-main group element adducts, and might be useful for the broad research community.

Silicon and Oxygen's Bond of Affection: An Acyclic Three-Coordinate Silanone and Its Transformation to an Iminosiloxysilylene.

A long-term dream comes true: An acyclic, neutrally charged silanone at last! Here, we report on the first examples of isolable acyclic, neutral, three-coordinate silanones 2 with indefinite stability as solids and lifetimes in solution of up to 2 days. The electronic properties of the Si═O bond were investigated via DFT calculations and revealed the π-donating N-heterocyclic imino (NHI) and σ-donating silyl groups as key factors for their enhanced stability. Besides initial reactivity studies of 2 toward CO2 and methanol, different isomerization pathways depending on the silyl substitution pattern were found. For 2a (R = TMS), a 1,3-silyl shift gave an intermediary disilene, which was trapped as unique NHC-disilene adduct 6. For the more stable silanone 2b (R = t-Bu), a selective transformation to the first reported room temperature stable, acyclic, two-coordinate N,O-silylene 7 exhibiting a fascinating siloxy ligand was observed. Both compounds were fully characterized experimentally and their bonding features were analyzed by theoretical calculations.