Ultrawideline 35Cl solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectra of a series of 12 tin chlorides were recorded. The magnitude of the 35Cl quadrupolar coupling constant (C Q) was shown to consistently indicate the chemical state (oxidation number) of the bound Sn center. The chemical state of the Sn center was independently verified by tin Mössbauer spectroscopy. C Q(35Cl) values of >30 MHz correspond to Sn­(IV), while C Q(35Cl) readings of <30 MHz indicate that Sn­(II) is present. Tin-119 SSNMR experiments would seem to be the most direct and effective route to interrogating tin in these systems, yet we show that ambiguous results can emerge from this method, which may lead to an incorrect interpretation of the Sn oxidation number. The accumulated 35Cl NMR data are used as a guide to assign the Sn oxidation number in the mixed-valent metal complex Ph3PPdImSnCl2. The synthesis and crystal structure of the related Ph3PPtImSnCl2 are reported, and 195Pt and 35Cl SSNMR experiments were also used to investigate its Pt–Sn bonding. Plane-wave DFT calculations of 35Cl, 119Sn, and 195Pt NMR parameters are used to model and interpret experimental data, supported by computed 119Sn and 195Pt chemical shift tensor orientations. Given the ubiquity of directly bound Cl centers in organometallic and inorganic systems, there is tremendous potential for widespread usage of 35Cl SSNMR parameters to provide a reliable indication of the chemical state in metal chlorides.

The NH activation of ammonia by tetramesityldisilene takes place in three steps: formation of the anti-ammonia-disilene adduct, inversion at the β-silicon, and intramolecular syn-transfer of the proton to give the syn-product.

The addition of 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide and t-butyl isocyanide to tetramesityldisilene was examined. In both cases, the initially formed product is an iminodisilirane; however, the iminodisiliranes are unstable under the reaction conditions and react with a second equivalent of the isocyanide to give either a 3-silaazetidine or a novel bicyclic double enamine, respectively. Taken together with the previous examples in the literature, the results demonstrate that subtle differences in the steric bulk of the disilene or the electronic effects of the isocyanide can lead to dramatic differences in the reaction pathway.

The stereochemistry of the addition of NH3 to the stereoisomers of 1,2‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1,2‐bis(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)disilene (Z‐5 or E‐5) is 100 % stereospecific giving two isomeric disilylamines 6 and 7, respectively, derived from syn‐addition to the stereoisomeric disilenes. Variable time normalization analysis studies of the reaction of tetramesityldisilene (3) with isopropylamine (iPrNH2) revealed that the order in both amine and disilene is 1. The kinetic isotope effect for the addition of iPrNH2/iPrND2 to tetramesityldisilene was determined to be 3.04±0.06 at 298 K, a primary KIE, indicating that the proton is transferred in the rate determining step. Competition studies between the addition of PrNH2 and iPrNH2 to tetramesityldisilene resulted in the exclusive formation of the PrNH2 adduct consistent with a nucleophilic addition. Computational studies of the mechanism of the addition of ammonia to E‐5 revealed the lowest energy pathway involves the formation of the donor adduct derived from syn‐addition, followed by intramolecular syn‐transfer of the proton. The formation of the donor adduct is the rate determining step. The results of this study, together with previous studies on the addition of ammonia and amines to disilenes, allow for a refinement of our understanding of the mechanism of this important fundamental reaction in disilene chemistry, and allow us to understand our ability to reliably predict the stereochemical outcomes of future NH σ‐bond activation reactions.

The addition of 2,6‐dimethylphenyl isocyanide and t‐butyl isocyanide to tetramesityldisilene was examined. In both cases, the initially formed product is an iminodisilirane; however, the iminodisiliranes are unstable under the reaction conditions and react with a second equivalent of the isocyanide to give either a 3‐silaazetidine or a novel bicyclic double enamine, respectively. Taken together with the previous examples in the literature, the results demonstrate that subtle differences in the steric bulk of the disilene or the electronic effects of the isocyanide can lead to dramatic differences in the reaction pathway.