Transmetallation and silylation products of aminal carbanions

Reactions of the lithiated carbanion [(RLi)(2).(RH)] (R = MeN[CH(2)N(Me)](2)CH, 2,4,6-trimethyl-2,4,6-triazacyclohex-1-yl) with dialkylaluminium and -gallium chlorides lead to the corresponding dialkylaluminium and -gallium compounds (RAlMe(2))(2), (RAlEt(2))(2) and (RGaEt(2))(2). They were characterised by elemental analyses, NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (13)C, (27)Al) and crystal structure determinations. In the solid state the aluminium and gallium compounds form dimers by intermolecular coordination between the metal acceptor and the nitrogen donor leading to six-membered M(2)C(2)N(2) rings in chair conformation. As a first test for the synthetic utility of [(RLi)(2).(RH)], nucleophilic aminomethylation of chlorotrimethylsilane was performed to give RSiMe(3). Further deprotonation of RSiMe(3) with tBuLi occurs at one of the methyl groups bound to the silicon atom leading to RMe(2)SiCH(2)Li. Reactions with dimethylaluminium and -gallium chlorides gave RMe(2)SiCH(2)AlMe(2) and RMe(2)SiCH(2)GaMe(2). The compounds were characterised by NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (13)C, (29)Si, (27)Al), elemental analyses and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds are monomeric in the solid state with intramolecular M-N bonds (M = Al, Ga) leading to five-membered rings.