Aminolysis of bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]-manganese, -iron, and -cobalt for the synthesis of mono- and bis-silylene complexes.

We report a method for the synthesis of amidinate stabilized silylene (NHSi) metal–halide complexes from M{N(SiMe3)2}2 (M = Mn, Fe, Co). The reported reactions can be used to make mono-silylene or bis-silylene complexes and the resulting products can be easily controlled by the reaction stoichiometry. Additionally, we apply this new synthetic protocol for the synthesis of a bis-iron complex derived from a bis-amidinate ligand having a terphenyl backbone.