Oxidative Addition of Ammonia at a Silicon(II) Center and an Unprecedented Hydrogenation Reaction of Compounds with Low-Valent Group 14 Elements Using Ammonia Borane

The reaction of L'Si [L' = CH{(C=CH(2))(CMe)(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N)(2)}] with ammonia under oxidative addition results in L'Si(H)NH(2). H(3)NBH(3) functions as a source of hydrogen for the hydrogenation of N-heterocyclic carbenes and germylenes.