The Hydroorganosilanes Organosilicon Hydrides

Bis- and tris(trimethylsilyl)methyllithium can be obtained by reacting RLi with the appropriately substituted methane [113] Bis(trimethylsilylmethyl) derivatives of zinc [114] cadmium [115] and mercury [112] are all volatile liquids. The zinc and cadmium compounds are readily hydrolysed and oxidized, unlike the mercury derivative. 

The Group III trialkyls [(H3Q3SiCH2]3M, where M = B, Al, Ga or In, can be prepared from the Grignard reagent and are volatile, distillable liquids [114-117]. The aluminium compound distills as an etherate. 

The germilene and stannylene [(H3C)3Si]2CH 2M are crystalline solids and are the products of reactions between the lithium alkyl and metal amide trimethylsilanes [118] (Eq.3.37)  

The trimethylsilylmethyl ligand (H3C)3SiCH2 has also been used to stabilize the transition metals, particularly in high oxidation states. Mononuclear derivatives include [(H3C)3SiCH2]4Zr, [(H3C)3SiCH2]3VO and [(H3C)3SiCH2l4V [119]. 

The hydroorganosilanes RSiH3, R2SiH2 and R3SiH may be either gaseous, liquid or solid at 20 °C. Some examples are 

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