Chapter 8: Chemistry of Transition Metal Complexes with Group 14 Elements: Transition Metal Complexes with Silicon, a Heavier Carbon Group Element

Chapter 8 (the first chapter in the Advanced Part) describes the chemistry of metal complexes of the heavier carbon congener, silicon. Compared to carbon, silicon is larger, has lower electronegativity, and has additional low-lying orbitals. The consequent differences in reactivity and chemistry, such as the typically greater strength of M–Si bonds compared to M–C bonds, are presented and explained. Topics covered include: oxidative addition of Si–H to metal centers and the reverse process of reductive elimination, which form the basis of catalytic hydrosilation; and complexes with silyl, η²-silane, silylene, silene, disilene and other silicon-containing ligands.