[Bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]lithium and -sodium: Solubility in alkanes and complexes with O- and N-Donor ligands

Abstract

In contrast to alkyl compounds of lithium, which play an important role in organometallic chemistry, the corresponding heavier alkali metal compounds are less investigated. These compounds are mostly insoluble in inert solvents or undergo solvolysis in coordinating solvents due to their high reactivity. An exception from this typical behavior is demonstrated by bis(trimethylsilyl) methylsodium. This study examines alkane solutions of bis(trimethylsilyl)methyllithium and -sodium by NMR spectroscopic and cryoscopic methods. In addition, structural studies by X-ray crystallography of the corresponding compounds coordinated by O- and N- ligands (tetrahydrofuran and tetramethylethylenediamine) present possible structural motifs of the uncoordinated compounds in solution.