The Reaction of Transient 1,1‐Bis(trimethylsilyl)silenes with Tris(trimethylsilyl)silyllithium – Synthesis and Structure of Sterically Congested 1‐Trimethylsilylalkylpolysilanes

Tris(trimethylsilyl)silyllithium ( 3 ) reacted with aldehydes and ketones (molar ratio 2 : 1) according to a modified Peterson mechanism under formation of transient silenes, which were immediately trapped by excess 3 to give the organolithium derivatives (Me₃Si)₃SiSi(SiMe₃)₂C(Li)R¹R² ( 7 ). Hydrolysis of 7 afforded the alkylpolysilanes (Me₃Si)₃SiSi(SiMe₃)₂CHR¹R² ( 8 ). Depending on the substituents R¹ and R², 7 proved to be rather unstable in THF solution and underwent a rapid rearrangement, involving a 1,3‐Si,C‐trimethylsilyl migration, resulting in the formation of the lithium silanides (Me₃Si)₂Si(Li)Si(SiMe₃)₂C(SiMe₃)R¹R² ( 9 ), which were hydrolized during the aqueous workup to give the H‐silanes (Me₃Si)₂Si(H)Si(SiMe₃)₂C(SiMe₃)R¹R² ( 10 ). Reaction of 9 with chlorotrimethylsilane produced the 1‐trimethylsilylalkylpolysilanes (Me₃Si)₃SiSi(SiMe₃)₂C(SiMe₃)R¹R² ( 11 ). The structures of the products described were elucidated by comprehensive spectral analyses. The results of X‐ray crystal structure analyses, performed for 8 l (R¹ = H, R² = 2,4,6‐(MeO)₃C₆H₂), 10 d (R¹ = H, R² = Mes) and 11 d (R¹ = H, R² = Mes) are discussed and confirm the expected extreme sterical congestion of the molecules.