Silylene-assisted hydride transfer to CO 2 and CS 2 at a [P 2 Si]Ru pincer-type complex.

The synthesis and characterization of base-stabilized and base-free pincer-type bis(phosphine)/silylene [P2 Si]Ru complexes are reported. The base-free complex readily reduces CO2 and CS2 via silylene-assisted hydride transfer, affording structurally distinct products with silicon-to-ruthenium formate and dithioformate bridges.