Silyl stabilized azanes: reactions of lithiumbis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine with trialkyltin halides

Lithium 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine (1a) reacts with Me3SnCl, Et3SnBr and Bu3SnCl to form bis(trimethylsilyl)(trimethylstannyl)hydrazine (2a), (triethylstannyl)bis(trimethyl silyl)hydrazine (2b) and (tributylstannyl)bis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine (2c), respectively. Compounds 2a and 2b undergo disproportionation at room temperature to form bis(trimethylsilyl)bis(trimethylstannyl)hydrazine (3a) and bis(triethylstannyl)bis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine (3b). In contrast, 2c is highly stable and can withstand such a reaction up to 150 °C. The monostannylated products, 2a, 2b and 2c do not get lithiated at NH and instead undergo transmetallation in their reaction with RLi or Li to form lithiumbis(trimethylsilyl)hydrazine (1a).