Eta-6 bonding of benzene to potassium in [(C6H6)KOSiMe2Ph]4

Abstract Reaction of KH with PhMe 2 SiOH in toluene, followed by recrystallization from benzene, gives [(C 6 H 6 )KOSiMe 2 Ph] 4 , characterized by elemental analysis, 1 H and 29 Si NMR and X-ray diffraction. The molecule is a cubane tetramer of rigorous S 4 symmetry, in which the KO 3 coordination environment is supplemented by h 6 -binding of one benzene to each potassium. Crystal data (− 169°C): a = 12.972(2), b = 18.006(2) A, with Z = 8 in space group I 4.