Recent studies on metal and metalloid bis(trimethylsilyl)methyls and the transformation of the bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl into the azaallyl and β-diketinimato ligands

Recent results (post-1990) on the synthesis and structures of bis(trimethylsilyl)methyls M(CHR₂)_m (R = SiMe₃) of metals and metalloids M are described, including those of the crystalline lipophilic Na(μ-CHR₂)]_∞, Rb(μ-CHR₂)(PMDETA)]₂, K₄(CHR₂)₄(PMDETA)₂, Mg(CHR₂)(μ-CHR₂)]_∞, P(CHR₂)₂ (gaseous) and P₂(CHR₂)₄, Yb(CHR₂)₂(OEt₂)₂] and {Yb(CR₃)(μ-OEt)(OEt₂)}₂]; earlier information on other M(CHR₂)_m complexes and some of their adducts is tabulated. Treatment of M(CHR₂) (M = Li or K) with four different nitriles gave the X-ray-characterized azaallyls or β-diketinimates , and (LL′ = N(R)C(^tBu)CHR, L′L′ = N(R)C(Ph)C(H)C(Ph)NR, LL″ = N(R)C(Ph)NC(H)C(Ph)CHR, R = SiMe₃ and Ar = C₆H₃Me₂-2,5). The two lithium reagents were convenient sources of other metal azaallyls or β-diketinimates, including those of K, Co(II), Zr(IV), Sn(IV), Yb(II), Hf(IV) and U(VI)/U(III). Complexes having one or more of the bulky ligands LL′]^?, L′L′]^?, LL]^?, LL″]^?, L″L]^?, LL]^? and {N(R)C(^tBu)CH}₂C₆H₄-2]^2? are described and characterized (LL = N(H)C(Ph)C(H)C(Ph)NH, L″L = N(R)C(^tBu)C(H)C(Ph)NR, LL = N(R)C(^tBu)CHPh). Among the features of interest are (i) the contrasting tetrahedral or square-planar geometry for and , respectively, and (ii) olefin-polymerization catalytic activity of some of the zirconium(IV) chlorides.