Synthesis and reactivity of functionalized silicon(II) compounds: Iminosilylene, phosphinosilylene, hydrosilylene, and related compounds

Recent decades have witnessed the isolation of a large number of stable silicon(II) compounds along with their applications toward small molecule activation and as versatile ligand systems for transition-metal complexes. The employment of donor stabilization techniques has proven to be an effective mean for stabilization of such silicon(II) systems that is consequently helpful in further reactivity investigations. In this context, an overview of the study of donor-stabilized silicon(II) compounds bearing unique functionalities that have recently been investigated in our research group is presented. By the use of amidinato ligand or N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), the access to heteroatom-functionalized silicon(II) compounds has been achieved and exploration of further reactivity has led to the isolation of additional novel silicon(II) species. Applications of these silicon(II) compounds as ligands towards transition-metal complexes and in activation of organic and inorganic small molecules are also described.