Silicon-Based Ligands for Transition Metal Coordination

The silylenes and bis(silylenes) have demonstrated excellent α-electron-donating ability toward transition metals. Stable silylene and bis(silylene) complexes of metals across the d-block have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Especially the late transition metal complexes with silylene and bis(silylene) ligands have shown the most promise. There is an ever-increasing interest in transition metal complexes with silylene and bis(silylene) ligands because of their ability to catalyze organic transformations. In addition, this class of transition metal compounds has also demonstrated activity in small molecule activation. Selected examples of such transition metal compounds described in this chapter include compounds of spacer-separated bis(silylene) ligands with oxygen, phosphorus, aryl, and ferrocene spacers. In addition, a transition metal complex of a silylene-carbene chelate ligand is described.