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) xNAr}(Z)(THF)n)y,] (Z = I, CH(SiMe 3)2, CH2Ph, H, N(SiMe3)2, OC6H3-2,6-tBu2-4-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) xNAr}PhH) (x = 2 (16), 3) and (Si{CH(SiMe3) 2}PhH2).