title: The addition of nitriles to tetramesityldisilene: a comparison of the reactivity between surface and molecular disilenes.
abstract: The addition of acetonitrile, propionitrile, and phenylacetonitrile to tetramesityldisilene (Mes2 Si=SiMes2 ) was examined. In general, 1,2,3-azadisiletines and the tautomeric enamines were formed, although a ketenimine was formed as the major product in the addition of phenylacetonitrile to the disilene. In the presence of LiCl, the mode of addition changed for both acetonitrile and propionitrile: insertion into the α-CH bond of acetonitrile and/or formation of the formal HCN adduct was observed. Preliminary investigations of the reactivity of the nitrile adducts are also reported. A comparison between the reactivity of nitriles with Mes2 Si=SiMes2 and the Si(100)-2×1 surface was made both in terms of the types of adducts formed and their reactivity. Some insights into the surface chemistry are offered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7 (Canada).
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hardwick
authors.forename: Kim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Baines
keywords: Group 14 elements; disilenes; nitriles; silicon; surface chemistry