Dihydrogen Splitting Using Dialkylsilylene‐Based Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Isolable dialkylsilylene 5 reacts with dihydrogen in the presence of a small amount of a conventional Lewis acid (BPh3, BEt3) or a base (PPh3, PEt3, NPh3, NEt3) at low temperatures in a hydrocarbon solvent, giving the corresponding dihydrosilane 10 in high yields. Both 5/Lewis acid and Lewis base/5 pairs work as a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) to split dihydrogen, being in accord with the amphoteric nature of silylene 5. Splitting up based on frustration: Amphoteric dialkylsilylene 5 that forms frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) with either a Lewis acid or base splits dihydrogen at low temperatures in hexane giving the corresponding dihydrosilane 10 in high yields.