Silylene

Silylenes are chemical compounds containing a divalent silicon atom without any electrical charge. Both dicoordinate and tricoordinate silylenes are reported in the literature. They are considered to be heavier analogues of carbene. In earlier times, they were called silene, but this is a mistake, as that term means compounds of π-bonded silicon: Si=C. The generic term analogous to carbene is "silicene."