Dinuclear and tetranuclear group 10 metal complexes constructed from linear tetrasilane comprising both Si-H and Si-Si moieties.

The activation of Si-H bonds and/or Si-Si bonds in organosilicon compounds by transition-metal species plays a crucial role for the production of functional organosilicon compounds. Although group-10-metal species are frequently used to activate Si-H and/or Si-Si bonds, so far, systematic investigation to clarify the preferences of these metal species with respect to the activation of Si-H and/or Si-Si bonds remain elusive. Here, we report that platinum(0) species that bear isocyanide or N-heterocyclic-carbene (NHC) ligands selectively activates the terminal Si-H bonds of the linear tetrasilane Ph(H)SiSiPhSiPhSi(H)Ph in a stepwise manner, whereby the Si-Si bonds remain intact.