The Synthesis and Dimerization of Transient 1-Silabutadienes

3-Methyl-1-tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl-2-butenol(1) ( 6 ) and (E)-3-Phenyl-1-tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl-2-propenol(1) ( 7 ) were prepared by the reaction of tris(trimethylsilyl)silyllithium ( 5 ) with 3,3-dimethylacrolein and (E)-cinnamaldehyde, resp. The alcohols 6 and 7 proved to be suitable precursors for the generation of the transient 1-silabutadienes (Me₃Si)₂Si = CHCH = CR¹R² 8 and 9 ( 8 : R¹ = R² = Me; 9 : R¹ = H, R² = Ph) following the principle of the modified Peterson reaction. Thus, 6 and 7 after deprotonation with excess MeLi in ether at low temperatures eliminated trimethylsilanolate and gave 8 and 9 , which were trapped by the excess organolithium reagent undergoing nucleophilic 1,2- or 1,4-addition reactions. In the absence of scavengers, e.g. when 8 and 9 were generated by treatment of 6 and 7 with stoichiometric quantities of MeLi in ether, the 1-silabutadienes dimerize in a [2 + 2] head-to-head fashion to give the 1,2-disilacyclobutanes 17 and 18 , resp., besides polymeric material. Treatment of the alcohol 6 with MeLi in tetrahydrofuran caused a 1,3-Si,O-trimethylsilyl shift affording the alkoxysilane (Me₃Si)₂SiH? CH(OSiMe₃)CH = CMe₂ 19 .