Silylmercury, preparation

TABLE 5. Metalated oligosilanes prepared by mercury-pounds and alkali metals metal exchange between silylmercury com- ... 

Transmetallation of silylmercury compounds, which are most easily available via the reaction of a silane with (/-Bu)2llg, appears to be the most convenient method for the preparation of cyclic potassium oligosilyl compounds c-(MegSis)K (19)83c as well as c-(MenSi6)K (20)84 were obtained by Hengge and coworkers from the corresponding mercury compound by means of a Na/K alloy in THF (equation 33). 

Silyllithium compounds may also be prepared by the transmetalation reaction between silylmercury and Li. The requisite silylmercury may be prepared from the corresponding chlorosilane or hydrosilane. The latter can be applied to the synthesis of polysilanyllithium. Equation (17) is an example. ... 

Convenient and inexpensive Me3SiCl can be used as solvent for the relative stable silylmercury. Displacement occurs smoothly and the thermally labile germylmercury species may be kept at low temperatures or prepared in situ. Their use in Ge-metal synthesis is discussed in S.8.4.S the other application is in the synthesis of digermanes or silylgermanes by elimination of mercury... 

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