Structural, energetic, and magnetic criteriaconfirm that the silole dianion (CH)
4Si
2-(
7) and itsalkali-metal ion pairs, e.g. (CH)
4SiLi
-(
7a), (CH)
4SiLi
2(
7b), (CH)
4SiNa
2(
13), and (CH)
4SiK
2(
14), are highlyaromatic. Inverse sandwich structures and stronglydelocalized silole rings are prefered by
7b,
13,and
14.The degree of aromaticity in[
5-(CH)
4Si]Li
-(
7a) exceedsthat of the isoelectronic third-period heterocycles(CH)
4PLi (
5a) and (CH)
4SLi
+(
6a) and even approaches thatof (CH)
5Li (
3a).