Lead(II) Siloxides.

Although PbII -siloxides have been known until now to decompose to oxoclusters, here [{ROF }PbOSi(SiMe3 )3 ] (ROF =fluoroalkoxide) and, most importantly, [Pb2 {OSi(SiMe3 )3 }{µ2 -OSi(SiMe3 )3 }3 ], are presented. The unusual bonding pattern in the latter thermally stable dinuclear complex was investigated by crystallographic and computational methods. Its stability is much higher than that of the simple, yet elusive "[Pb(OSiPh3 )2 ]", for which decomposition pathways towards [Pb4 (µ4 -O)(µ2 -OSiPh3 )6 ] have been clearly established.