Preparation and spectroscopic studies of some reactions of lithium derivatives of silanol, disilylphosphine, and related compounds

Abstract

Methyl-lithium reacts with Y(SiH₃)₂(Y = O, S, or Se) or Z(SiH₃)₃(Z = P or As) in diethyl ether to give Li(YSiH₃) or Li[Z(SiH₃)₂]; these compounds have been characterised by i.r., Raman, and n.m.r. spectroscopy, and some of their reactionswith halides have been studied. Trisilylamine does not react cleanly with LiMe to form an analogous compound. The n.m.r. spectra of solutions containing both Li(YSiH₃) and Y(SiH₃)₂ show that exchange occurs that is rapid on the n.m.r. time scale unless Y = O. Silyl selenoacetate can be prepared from Li(SeSiH₃) and MeCOCl, and the kinetic parameters for the intramolecular exchange in this species have been determined.