Bis(3,5-dibromophenyl)dimethylsilane: A useful synthon for organosilicon chemistry

The diarylsilyl compound, C₁₄H₁₂Br₄Si, was prepared from the reaction of 3,5-dibromophenyllithium with dimethyldichlorosilane, (CH₃)₂SiCl₂, at -78 ℃, can be a good synthon for derivatization to produce efficient host materials for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Crystal structure analysis shows a slight deviation from ideal tetrahedral symmetry around the Si atom, whose conformation is effective in ensuring the maximum separation of the two phenyl rings and the two methyl substituents. The directions of the two aromatic rings are almost perpendicular to each other. The molecule exists as a monomer in the solid state.