Theoretical study on the substitution reactions of silylenoid H2SiLiF with CH4, NH3, H2O, HF, SiH4, PH3, H2S, and HCl.

DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level have been performed to explore the substitution reactions of silylenoid H(2)SiLiF with XH(n) hydrides, where XH(n) = CH(4), NH(3), H(2)O, HF, SiH(4), PH(3), H(2)S, and HCl. We have identified a previously unreported reaction pathway on each reaction surface, H(2)SiLiF + XH(n) --> H(3)SiF + LiXH(n-1), which involved the initial formation of an association complex via a five-membered cyclic transition state to form an intermediate followed by the substituted product H(3)SiF with LiXH(n-1) dissociating. These theoretical calculations suggest that (i) there is a very clear trend toward lower activation barriers and more exothermic interactions on going from left to right along a given row in the periodic table, and (ii) for the second-row hydrides, the substitution reactions are more exothermic than for the first-row hydrides and the reaction barriers are lower. The solvent effects were considered by means of the polarized continuum model (PCM) using THF as a solvent. The presence of THF solvent disfavors slightly the substitution reaction. Compared to the previously reported insertions and H(2)-elimination reactions of H(2)SiLiF and XH(n), the substitution reactions should be most favorable.