The first stable beta-fluorosilylanion.

The reaction of 2 equiv of tris(trimethylsilyl)silylfluoride with potassium tert-butoxide in the presence of donor molecules (THF, DME, 18-crown-6) leads to the clean formation of an adduct of 1-potassio-2-fluorotetrakis(trimethylsilyl)disilane. Attempts to transmetalate this compound effect the elimination of metal fluoride accompanied by the formation of tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)disilene. The latter can either be trapped in a cycloaddition reaction or in the absence of trapping reagents dimerizes to octakis(trimethylsilyl)cyclotetrasilane.