Multiple Bonding in Silicon Compounds

Since the isolation of the first stable examples of disilene and silene in 1981, the chemistry of silicon compounds possessing multiple bonds with main-group elements has flourished progressively. Disilenes are interesting because of their unique structural features leading to reactivities different from their lighter congeners. Likewise, heteroleptic multiple-bond main-group compounds with silicon find ever-increasing interest because of unique electronic properties primarily based on electronegativity differences. With several examples of silenes and disilenes isolated and structurally characterized, the chemistry of heteroleptic main-group multiple-bond compounds of silicon has now penetrated well into the heavier elements of the main group. This chapter highlights several examples of such silicon compounds with multiple bonds. Selected compounds include examples of silene, disilene, phosphasilene, arsasilene, and silaallene.