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Anomalies in the Structural Chemistry of Silicon
Author(s) -
Bürger Hans
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition in english
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 0570-0833
DOI - 10.1002/anie.197304741
Subject(s) - silicon , carbon fibers , oxygen , chemistry , nitrogen , atomic orbital , alkyl , crystallography , molecule , planar , oxygen atom , computational chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , physics , electron , quantum mechanics , composite number , composite material , computer graphics (images) , computer science
In contrast to carbon, silicon fails to form multiple bonds that are stable at room temperature. Consequently molecules in which silicon exhibits coordination numbers (CN) of 1, 2, and 3 may only be obtained at very high or low temperatures. Under these conditions their structural features, including multiple bonds, resemble those of carbon. On the other hand, silicon is capable of forming various hexacoordinated compounds making use of its d orbitals. Nitrogen and oxygen bonded to silicon develop an unusual stereochemistry: planar nitrogen, nearly or completely linear oxygen, and considerable shortening of SiN, SiO, and SiF bonds are specific examples. N(SiR 3 ) 2 and CH 2 SiR 3 ligands permit stabilization of unusually low CNs of many metals and give rise to amino and alkyl derivatives of unexpectedly high stability due to the particular electronic, the R 3 Si group.