Yttrium complexes incorporating the chelating diamides {ArN(CH ₂ ) x NAr} ²⁻ (Ar = C ₆ H ₃ -2,6- i Pr ₂ , x = 2, 3) and their unusual reaction with phenylsilane

Novel yttrium chelating diamide complexes [(Y[ArN(CH(2))(x)NAr](Z)(THF)(n))(y)] (Z = I, CH(SiMe(3))(2), CH(2)Ph, H, N(SiMe(3))(2), OC(6)H(3)-2,6-(t)Bu(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(SiMe(3))(2), x = 2, 3) underwent unprecedented exchange of yttrium for silicon on reaction with phenylsilane to yield (Si[ArN(CH(2))(x)NAr]PhH) (x = 2 (16), 3) and (Si[CH(SiMe(3))(2)]PhH(2)).