Anthryl-substituted 3-silylene-2-silaaziridine obtained by isomerization of disilacyclopropanimine: an exocyclic silene showing a distinct intramolecular charge transfer transition.

An anthryl-substituted exocyclic silene, 3-silylene-2-silaaziridine, was synthesized by isomerization of the corresponding disilacyclopropanimine. The UV-vis spectrum of the silene shows a distinct intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) transition from the π orbital of the Si═C double bond to the π* orbital of the anthryl moiety. The relatively high-lying π(Si═C) orbital of the 3-silylene-2-silaaziridine moiety and the low-lying π* orbital of the anthryl group would be responsible for the distinct ICT band.