disilyne

Disilyne is a low valent silicon compound with the chemical formula Si2R2 where oxidation state of Si is +1. Several isomers are possible, but none are sufficiently stable to be of practical value. Substituted disilynes contain a formal silicon–silicon triple bond and as such are sometimes written R2Si2 (where R is a substituent group). They are the silicon analogues of alkynes.

The term silyne has two diverse meanings. Some chemists use it to refer to compounds containing a silicon–silicon triple bond, by analogy to the carbon–carbon triple bond in alkynes, whereas others use the term to refer to compounds containing a silicon–carbon triple bond by analogy to silene, which often refers to compounds containing silicon–carbon double bonds. The term polysilyne can refer to the layer polymer (SiH)n or substituted derivatives.