Synthesis of a silene from 1,1-dilithiosilole and 2-adamantanone.

Reaction of 1,1-dilithio-1-sila-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylsilole with 2-adamantanone produces a 5-silafulvene. This represents a new method for synthesis of silenes, leading to the first example of a silapentafulvene.