Novel α,ω-bis(trialkylsilyl)-allyl and -1-azapentadienyl ligands; structures of [Li{η 3 -CH(CHSiMe 2 Bu t ) 2 }(tmen)], [Li{N(SiMe 3 )CBu t (CH) 3 SiMe 2 Bu t }(tmen)] and [K{η 4 -N(SiMe 2 Bu t )CBu t (CH) 3 SiMe 2 Bu t }] ∞

The η3-allyl–lithium or –potassium compounds [Li{η3-CH(CHSiMe2But)(CHSiMe2R)}(tmen)](R = But 3a, Me 3b) and K{η3-CH(CHSiMe2But)2}(obtained from ButMe2SiCH2CHCHSiMe2R) with ButCN afford the 1-azapentadienyl–lithium or –potassium compounds [Li{η1-N(SiMe2R)C(But)(CH)3SiMe2But}L](L = tmen, R = But 6a, Me 6b; L absent, R = But 8a, Me 8b) or [K{η4-N(SiMe2But)C(But)(CH)3SiMe2But}]∞ 7.