title: A cationic zinc hydride cluster stabilized by an N-heterocyclic carbene: synthesis, reactivity, and hydrosilylation catalysis.
abstract: The trinuclear cationic zinc hydride cluster [(IMes)3Zn3H4(THF)](BPh4)2 (1) was obtained either by protonation of the neutral zinc dihydride [(IMes)ZnH2]2 with a Brønsted acid or by addition of the putative zinc dication [(IMes)Zn(THF)](2+). A triply bridged thiophenolato complex 2 was formed upon oxidation of 1 with PhS-SPh. Protonolysis of 1 by methanol or water gave the corresponding trinuclear dicationic derivatives. At ambient temperature, 1 catalyzed the hydrosilylation of aldehydes, ketones, and nitriles. Carbon dioxide was also hydrosilylated under forcing conditions when using (EtO)3SiH, giving silylformate as the main product.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52056 Aachen (Germany).
authors.forename: Arnab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rit
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanardi
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Spaniol
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maron
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okuda
keywords: N-heterocyclic carbenes; carbon dioxide; homogeneous catalysis; hydrides; zinc