Synthesis of a 1-silaallene with a sterically demanding silyl substituent

Motivated to isolate multiple-bonded group 14 compounds, we prepared a new dichlorosilyl alkyne compound 1 featuring a bulky silyl substituent designed to provide both steric protection and electronic stabilization. Upon the reaction of compound 1 with t BuLi, 1-silaallene 2 is generated and characterized. The optimized geometry and bonding nature of compound 2 were studied by density functional theory calculations.