The reactions of silylene in the infrared multiphoton-induced decomposition of silane—ethylene mixtures

Abstract A study of the competitive reactions of silylene, formed via the IR laser multiphoton decomposition of silane, with ethylene and silane shows that the relative rate constant for addition to ethylene is 0.19 times that for insertion into a silicon—hydrogen bond of silane. The sole product of the addition to ethylene was vinylsilane as identified by comparison of the product mass spectrum with that of a synthesized sample. A study of the temperature dependence of the rate constant ratio indicates that the activation energy for addition to the double bond of ethylene is 0.8 kcal mol −1 greater than that of insertion into a silicon—hydrogen bond of silane.