Synthesis, photochemistry and x-ray crystal structures of the methyltris[bis(trimethylsilyl)amido] compounds MeTi[N(SiMe 3) 2] 3 and MeZr[N(SiMe 3) 2] 3

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of the compound methyltris[bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]titanium, MeTi[N(SiMe 3) 2] 3 (1), is reported. In the presence of UV radiation or sunlight, 1 decomposed rapidly to the titanium(III) species Ti[N(SiMe 3) 2] 3 ( 2). The X-ray crystal structures of the compounds MeM[N(SiMe 3) 2] 3, M = Ti and Zr ( 3), are reported. Compound 3 was stable in sunlight, but the cyclometallated product [(Me 3Si) 2N] 2 ZrN(SiMe 3)SiMe 2C H 2 ( 4) was apparently formed (from 1H and 13C NMR data) when solutions of 3 were exposed to a source of UV radiation.