Reactions of silylallyl-lithium or -potassium compounds with ButCN; synthesis and structures of [M{N(SiMe2R)C(But)(CH)3SiMe2But}] [M = Li(tmen), R = Me; or M = K, R = But], [Li{N(SiMe3)C(But)>>CCHC(SiMe3)(CH2)2C>>H2}(tmen)] and [{Li[NC(But)>>CHCHC(SiMe3)(CH2)2C>>H2]}4] (tmen = Me2NCH2CH2NMe2)

The reactions of a 1,3-bis(silyl)allyl-lithium-tmen or corresponding potassium reagent with ButCN yielded the appropriate silyl migration product [Li{N(SiMe2R1)C(But)(CH)3SiMe2R2}(tmen)] (R1 = R2 = But, R1 = Me, R2 = But or R1 = R2 = Me), [Li{N(SiMe3)C(But)CCHC(SiMe3)(CH2)2CH2}(tmen)] or [K{η4-N(SiMe2R1)C(But)(CH)3SiMe2R2}] (R1 = R2 = But, R1 = But, R2 = Me or R1 = R2 = Me). The 1,5-bis(silyl)-1-azapenta-2,4-dienyllithium tmen-free analogues were obtained by lithiation of the corresponding enamines. The reaction of 2-trimethylsilylcyclohexenyllithium with ButCN produced the imidolithium complex [{Li[NC(But)CHCHC(SiMe3)(CH2)2CH2]}4]. Single crystal structures of four complexes have been determined.