Abstract: Electronic absorption spectra are reported for four ethynylsilylenes (A, nm), MesSiC= CH (524), MesSiC= CSiMe3 (545), MesSiC= CPh (500), and CH3SiC= CSiMe3 (473), generated in 3-methylpentane matrices by photolysis of the corresponding trisilanes, RR'Si (SiMe3) 2. Calculations of the 'A'-lA”(n-3p) transition energies for these and for some vinyl-and phenylsilylenes, by ab initio methods including the use of spin-projection ...