Yttrium complexes incorporating the chelating diamides {ArN(CH2)xNAr}2- (Ar = C6H3-2,6-iPr2, x=2, 3) and their unusual reaction with phenylsilane

Novel yttrium chelating diamide complexes [(Y{ArN(CH2)(x)NAr}(Z)(THF)(n))(y)] (Z = I, CH(SiMe3)(2), CH2Ph, H, N(SiMe3)(2), OC6H3-2,6-Bu-t(2)-4-Me; x = 2, 3; n = 1 or 2; y = 1 or 2) were made via salt metathesis of the potassium diamides (x = 3 ( 3), x = 2 (4)) and yttrium triiodide in THF (5, 10), followed by salt metathesis with the appropriate potassium salt (6 - 9, 11 - 13, 15) and further reaction with molecular hydrogen (14). 6 and 11 (Z = CH(SiMe3)(2), x = 2, 3) underwent unprecedented exchange of yttrium for silicon on reaction with phenylsilane to yield (Si{ArN(CH2)(x)NAr} PhH) (x = 2 (16), 3) and (Si{CH(SiMe3)(2)} PhH2).