Synthesis and functionalization of the six-vertex anionic amido-substituted silicon cluster [Si₆{N(SiMe₃)Ph}₅]^-

The reaction of the six-vertex amido-substituted silicon cluster Si-6{N(SiMe3)Ph}(6) 1 with two equiv. of KC8 results in the abstraction of K{N(SiMe3)Ph} and leads to the contact ion pair 2 including an anionic silicon cluster with two unsubstituted pyramidal vertices. Facile functionalization of 2 was achieved with MeI, SiCl4 and SiBr4 and results in neutral two-fold functionalized silicon clusters.