Synthesis and structure of stable 1,2-diaryldisilyne

A novel 1,2-diaryldisilyne, BbtSi≡SiBbt (Bbt = 2,6-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-4-[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl), was synthesized as a stable compound by reduction of the corresponding 1,2-dibromodisilene, Bbt(Br)Si=Si(Br)Bbt. The spectral and structural features of this first stable 1,2-diaryldisilyne are revealed, and the Si≡Si triple-bond character is evaluated with the aid of detailed theoretical calculations. The triple-bond characters of BbtSi≡SiBbt and BbtGe≡GeBbt are compared based on experimental and theoretical results.