Reaction of arylmethylsilanes and tetraarylsilanes with xenon difluoride in the presence of fluoride ions

Arylmethylsilane and tetraarylsilane interaction with xenon difluoride is studied using 1H and 19F NMR, chromatography and mass-spectrometry. Catalysis by fluoride ions is necessary for this reaction occurrence. Under effect of xenon difluoride in the presence of potassium, rubidium and cesium fluorides (polyfluoroaryl) trimethylsilanes are converted into protodisimilation products and diaryls. Aryl substituent electronegativity increase facilitates the reaction occurrence if in this case negative charge occuring in silicon atom cannot be delocalized in aromatic fragment. The most probable reaction mechanism is presented