Synthesis and structures of (dialkylsilylene)bis(phosphine)-nickel, palladium, and platinum complexes and (η6-arene)(dialkylsilylene)nickel complexes

A series of dialkylsilylene-group 10 metal complexes (R(H)(2)Si)(Me(3)P)(2)M (M = Ni, Pd, Pt, R(H)(2) = 1,1,4,4-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)butane-1,4-diyl) and novel (η(6)-arene)(dialkylsilylene)nickel complexes (η(6)-arene)(R(H)(2)Si)Ni were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. The perpendicular geometry around the Si-M bond and the short Si-M distances of (R(H)(2)Si)(Me(3)P)(2)M complexes indicate the significant back donation from the metal to the silylene ligand.