β-SiH rich zinc silyl compounds: Reductive elimination and β-hydrogen abstraction

The two-coordinate compound Zn{Si(SiHMe2)3}2 spontaneously undergoes reductive elimination to produce (Me2HSi)3Si-Si(SiHMe2)3 and metallic zinc. The transient disilylzinc compound is stabilized by a N-heterocyclic carbene or chelating N-donor ligands. Upon reaction with the Lewis acid B(C6F5)3, the β-SiH groups undergo β-hydrogen abstraction to give the corresponding silylzinc hydridoborate compounds.128