Amido Silicon Chalcogenides: New Cage Compounds Derived From The Bicyclic Silicon(I) Ring Compound Si4{N(SiMe3)Mes}4.

The bicyclic silicon(I) ring compound Si4{N(SiMe3)Mes}42 was used as starting material in reactions with chalcogens and chalcogen transfer agents at low temperatures. This results in the selective formation of new cage compounds. With Me3NO a silicon oxide with adamantane-type cage 3 was isolated that represents the first isolated T4 silsesquioxane. The reactions propylenesulfide and red selenium gave direct access to defect heterocubane-type cages 4 and 5 with three Si-Si bonds wherein the silicon atoms adopt different low oxidation states of +I and +III. A reaction with elemental tellurium even occurs below room temperature to provide a ditelluro-tetrasila-tricyclohexane 6.