The first metal complex containing a silylated β-diketonate ligand: bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2-sila-3,5-heptanedionato) copper(II)

A facile preparation of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-2-sila-3,5-heptanedione (tmshdH), exemplar of a new class of ligands, the sila-β-diketones, has been developed. Silicon substitution in the ligands has profound effects on the volatility, thermal properties, crystal packing, and electronic spectrum of the homoleptic Cu(II) complex, Cu(tmshd)2.