Bonding Relationship between Silicon and Germanium with Group 13 and Heavier Elements of Groups 14–16

Abstract

The topic of heavier main group compounds possessing multiple bonds is the subject of momentous interest in modern organometallic chemistry. Importantly, there is an excitement involving the discovery of unprecedented compounds with unique bonding modes. The research in this area is still expanding, particularly the reactivity aspects of these compounds. This article aims to describe the overall developments reported on the stable derivatives of silicon and germanium involved in multiple bond formation with other group 13, and heavier groups 14, 15, and 16 elements. The synthetic strategies, structural features, and their reactivity towards different nucleophiles, unsaturated organic substrates, and in small molecule activation are discussed. Further, their physical and chemical properties are described based on their spectroscopic and theoretical studies.

Synthesis and Reactivity of Aluminum Disilacyclopropenes. Cyclic AlSi2 Delocalized 2π Systems

“…The molecular structures of AlSi 2 heterocycles 2 , 3 , 4b , and 5 were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis (Figures and S1–S4). The Si–Si bond lengths in these compounds (2.1956(11) to 2.2222(10) Å) are consistent with double bond character (2.12–2.25 Å) . The Si–Al bond lengths of 2.3521 and 2.3506(12) Å in 2 and 2.3595 and 2.3512(11) Å in 4b are markedly shorter than a typical Si–Al single bond length of avg.…”

Germaborene reactivity study – addition of carbon nucleophiles, cycloaddition reactions, coordination chemistry

“…In main group element chemistry, studies of boron-element double bonds are an attractive area of research. [1][2][3] In addition to the development of a synthesis strategy, studies on the reactivity of the [B]E] unit and the investigation of the electronic structures of the unsaturated molecules are rewarding challenges in molecular chemistry. Research in this area has led to the presentation of many examples of boron-element double bonds: B]B, [4][5][6][7][8] B]C, [9][10][11] B]Si, [12][13][14][15][16] B]Ge, [17][18][19] B]Sn, 20 B] N, [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] B]P, [30][31][32][33][34] B]As, 33,35 B]O, [36][37][38][39][40][41] B]S, [41][42][43] B]Se, 36,41,…”

Understanding the Stability of an Unprecedented Si–Be Bond within Quantum Confinement

“…Silicon, being the earth’s most abundant element, has not been left behind in this context and has been reported to participate in distinctive or multiple bonding with itself as well as with other heavier elements. − At the quantum confinement phase space, it has been one of the most widely studied systems both experimentally as well as computationally. − ,, While, experimentally, Si has been evidenced to bond with several main group elements such as boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, etc., a bond with the Be atom is one of the most unprecedented ones so far. While its high ionization potentials and small size result in Be forming covalent bonds with many elements, B–Si bonds are quite rare.…”