Formation of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine via coupling of the two charge reversed C-N bonds of Me3NO in the presence of an Eu(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)amide complex

An N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) complex of Eu(II) was synthesized via an unprecedented self-aminomethylation of Me3NO in the presence of Eu[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2. The neutral TMEDA ligand is formed via the coupling of two charge reversed carbon centres from the same precursor Me3NO. In contrast, the reactions of LnII[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2 (Ln = Yb, Sm) with Me3NO led to the oxygen-bridged dinuclear complexes of Ln(III).

Nitrile formation via dichlorocarbene insertion into the Si–N bond of Ln(iii) bis(trimethylsilyl)amide complexes

Reactions of bis(trimethylsilyl)amino lanthanides and chloroform unprecedently generate the Me3SiCN complexes where the nitrile ligand is formed via insertion of dichlorocarbene into the Si–N bond of the lanthanide precursor.