Novel lithium 3-sila- and 3-germa-β-diketiminates†‡

Abstract

The novel 3-sila- and 3-germa-β-diketiminates [Li{N(R)- C(Ar)E(R)C(Ar)N(R)}(D)_n] (R = SiMe₃, Ar = C₆H₃Me₂-2,6 or Ph, E = Si or Ge, D = thf or ArCN and n = 1 or 2) were obtained from the reaction of [Li(ER₃)(thf)₃] with PhCN or ArCN; the X-ray crystal structures of two representatives of this new class of compounds were determined and shown to have, in contrast to related carbon analogues, the anionic charge localised at Si or Ge.