Reaction of atomic silicon with methanol: Matrix-spectroscopic identification of methoxysilylene

Codeposition of thermally generated silicon atoms with methanol in an argon matrix at 12K led to the formation of methoxysilylene (4) by insertion of the silicon atom into the O-H bond of the substrate. Its spectroscopic iden tification was aided by calculated IR spectra and deuteriation experiments. Both the s-cis (4a) and the s-trans conformer (4b) of methoxysilylene coul d be observed and interconverted into each other photochemically.