Stabilisation of the [SiH 6 ] 2- Anion within a Supramolecular Assembly.

The hypercoordinate [SiH 6 ] 2- anion is not stable in solution. Here, we report the room temperature, solution stable molecular [SiH 6 ] 2- complex, [{KCa(NON)(OEt 2 )} 2 ][SiH 6 ] (NON=4,5-bis(2,6-diisopropylanilido)-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene)), where the [SiH 6 ] 2- anion is stabilised within a supramolecular assembly that mimics the solid-state environment of the anion in the lattice of K 2 SiH 6 . Solution-state reactivity of the complex towards carbon monoxide, benzaldehyde, azobenzene and acetonitrile is reported, yielding a range of reduction and C-C coupled products.