REACTION OF TRIS(TRIMETHYLSILYL)SILANE WITH PENTACARBONYLIRON

Heating of pentacarbonyliron with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane results in liberation of hydrogen and formation of hexakis(trimethylsilyl)disilane. Photoinitiated reaction of the same compounds begins with oxidative addition of the silicon hydride to the iron complex with liberation of carbon(II) oxide. Subsequent transformations of the adduct lead to formation of bis(trimethylsilyl)silanediyitricarbonylhybrido(trimethylsilyl)iron which can be stabilized as an adduct with hexamethylphosphoramide.