Donor/Acceptor-Stabilized 1-Silaketene: Reversible [2+2] Cycloaddition with Pyridine and Evolution by an Olefin Metathesis Reaction

The reaction of silacyclopropylidene 1 with benzaldehyde generates a 1-silaketene complex 2 by a formal atomic silicon insertion into the C=O bond of the aldehyde. The highly reactive 1-silaketene 2 undergoes a reversible [2+2] cycloaddition with pyridine to give sila-beta-lactam 3. Of particular interest, in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), 1-silaketene complex 2 evolves through an intramolecular olefin metathesis reaction, generating a new 1-silaketene complex 8 and cis-stilbene. Theoretical studies suggest that the reaction proceeds through the formation of a transient silacyclobutanone, a four-membered-ring intermediate, similar to that proposed by Chauvin and co-workers for the transition-metal-based olefin metathesis.