One Pot Synthesis of Disilatricycloheptene Analogue and Jutzi’s Disilene

The reaction of LiN(TMS)(2) (TMS = Me(3)Si) with dichlorosilane (Me(5)C(5))SiHCl(2) (1) in a molar ratio of 3:2 at ambient temperature leads to the formation of the disilatricycloheptene analogue (2). Compound 2 consists of three (three-, four-, and five-membered) fused rings that together form a six-membered heterocyclic ring. However, the reaction of 1 with KN(TMS)(2) affords the formation of disilene of composition E-[(TMS)(2)N](η(1)-Me(5)C(5))Si═Si(η(1)-Me(5)C(5))[N(TMS)(2)] (3) in good yield. This is a convenient and facile route for the synthesis of 3 in a single step and supports the formation of (Me(5)C(5))SiN(TMS)(2) as an intermediate.