Abstract:
The interplay of frustration and cooperation opens up new perspectives for applications in bond activation and catalysis, such as the development of reversible systems for the splitting and release of dihydrogen. Small inorganic ring systems have always been highly attractive targets for exploring new bonding concepts, and they impressively demonstrate the diversity of the structural chemistry of main-group element compounds. For example, we recently reported the stereochemical influence on dihydrogen release from a protonated and isolable hydridosilane intermediate and examined the phosphine sulfide-assisted ring formation and opening. This presentation will provide an overview of the role of frustration and cooperation in ring formation and dihydrogen release processes in silicon-based systems.