(Trimethoxysilyl)carbene:  Photochemistry, Oxidation, and Carbonylation of a Silylcarbene

Photolysis (λ > 345 nm) of matrix-isolated (trimethoxysilyl)diazomethane (1e) leads to the formation of (trimethoxysilyl)carbene (2e), which was characterized by IR and UV−vis spectroscopy. The photochemistry, reaction with molecular oxygen, and carbonylation of 2e were studied in argon matrices at cryogenic temperatures. These experiments demonstrate that 2e is a triplet ground state carbene. Photolysis at 280 nm results in the formation of 1,1-dimethoxy-1,2-silaoxetane by insertion of the carbene center into one of the adjacent methyl groups.