Abstract
The compounds HC(SiMe
3
)(SiMe
2
X)
2
, X = NMe
2
or OMe, have been synthesized in several steps from the phenyl derivative HC(SiMe
3
)(SiMe
2
Ph)
2
and metallated to give organometallic compounds of the type MC(SiMe
3
)(SiMe
2
X)
2
, M = K or Li. The structures of the compounds KC(SiMe
3
)
2
(SiMe
2
NMe
2
) and KC(SiMe
2
NMe
2
)
3
consist of infinite chains in which cations are co-ordinated to both nitrogen and carbon centres, whereas the lithium compound [LiC(SiMe
3
)(SiMe
2
OMe)
2
]
2
crystallises in a lattice of dimeric cage molecules. Structural trends in the series MC(SiMe
3
)
n
(SiMe
2
X)
3-
n
,
n
= 0-3, M = K or Li, X = NMe
2
or OMe, are discussed.