title: Synthesis and Structure of a New Lithium Amide Ligand Precursor: A Tridentate Nitrogen-Based Donor Set of the Formula N(SiMe(2)CH(2)NMe(2))(2). Synthesis and Structure of the Group 4 Amides MCl(3)[N(SiMe(2)CH(2)NMe(2))(2)] (M = Ti, Zr, Hf).
abstract: The new lithium amide LiN(SiMe(2)CH(2)NMe(2))(2) was prepared by reaction of NH(3) with the corresponding silylamine Me(2)NSiMe(2)CH(2)NMe(2) followed by addition of butyllithium. This lithium derivative exists as a dimer in the solid state wherein the two lithium ions are bridged by the two amido units with the amine arms of each unit bonded to opposite lithium centers in an overall pseudo D(2) structure; however, in solution, a fluxional process serves to interconvert the enantiomeric forms of the dimer unit. The coordination chemistry of the lithium amide dimer has been investigated; reaction with a series of group 4 starting halides, MCl(4), leads to the corresponding complexes MCl(3)[N(SiMe(2)CH(2)NMe(2))(2)], where M = Ti, Zr, and Hf. The structures of these starting trihalides in solution and in the solid state are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, 10 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5.
authors.forename: Michael D.
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fryzuk
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: James E.
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kickham
authors.forename: Steven J.
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rettig
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gambarotta