Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of a chromium tricarbonyl complex of phenylsilatrane: Molecular structure of [C6H5Si(OCH2CH2) 3N]Cr(CO)3

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00156a046

The new compound [C₆H₅Si(OCH₂CH₂) ₃N]-Cr(CO)₃ has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. [C₆H₅Si(OCH₂CH₂) ₃N]Cr(CO)₃ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca, with a = 12.078 (2) ?, b = 12.347 (1) ?, c = 21.917 (3) ?, and Z = 8. The molecule possesses the usual silatrane skeleton containing a five-coordinated silicon atom. The N-Si distance (2.108 (5) ?) is somewhat shorter than that in phenylsilatrane. This is the first case where the crystal structure of the silatrane derivative, which acts as a π-coordinating ligand to transition metals, has been determined. This compound is a versatile starting material for a wide range of complexes, in particular for those of the general formula [C₆H₅Si(OCH₂CH₂)₃N] Cr(CO)₂L (L = PPh₃, P(CH₂CH₂CN)₃, and AsPh₃) and {[C₆H₅Si(OCH₂CH₂) ₃]Cr-(CO)₂}₂(μ-L-L) (L-L = dppe).