Bithienylsilanes: unexpected structure and reactivity

5-(2,2′-Bithienyl)hydrosilanes were prepared by reaction of bithienyl lithium with chlorodimethylsilane, dichloromethylsilane and trichlorosilane. It was shown that 5-(2,2′-bithienyl)dimethylsilane possesses higher reactivity in the hydrosilylation reaction of monosubstituted acetylene derivatives compared with (2-thienyl)dimethylsilane. The elongation of the π-conjugated chain leads to increasing selectivity of the hydrosilylation reaction. An unusual structure for bis[5-(2,2′-bithienyl)]methylsilane has been established by X-ray analysis.