Linear and cyclic polysilanes containing the bis(trimethylsilyl)amino group: synthesis, reactions, and spectroscopic characterization.

The reaction of linear (Si(n)Cl(2)(n)(+2); n = 3-5) and cyclic (Si(5)Cl(10)) perchloropolysilanes with 1 or 2 equiv of LiN(SiMe(3))(2) results in the formation of the bis(trimethylsilyl)amino derivatives (Me(3)Si)(2)NSi(3)Cl(7) (1), (Me(3)Si)(2)NSi(4)Cl(9) (2), (Me(3)Si)(2)N(SiCl(2))(n)N(SiMe(3))(2) (n = 3, 4; n = 4, 5; n = 5, 6), cyclo-(Me(3)Si)(2)NSi(5)Cl(9) (7), and cyclo-[(Me(3)Si)(2)N](2)Si(5)Cl(8) (8). 1-8 easily can be hydrogenated with LiAlH(4) to give the corresponding amino and diamino polysilanyl hydrides. The monosubstituted and cyclic compounds 1, 2, 7, and 8 additionally afford Si-Si bond scission products, which cannot be separated in all cases. Chloro- and dichloro derivatives of Si(3)H(8), n-Si(4)H(10), and n-Si(5)H(12) are obtained from the corresponding aminosilanes and dry HCl. All compounds were characterized by standard spectroscopic techniques. For Si-H derivatives the coupled (29)Si NMR spectra were analyzed to obtain an unequivocal structural proof.