Studies on the thermolysis of ether-stabilized Lu(CH2SiMe3)3. Molecular structure of Lu(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)(diglyme)

Lu(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2 (2) decomposes slowly at room temperature with formation of Me4Si. In order to understand the mechanism of this elimination process, Lu(CH2SiMe3)3([D8]-THF)2 (1), Lu(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)(DME) (3), and Lu(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)(diglyme) (4) were prepared. The results of 1H NMR spectroscopic studies of the decomposition in solution exclude an α- as well as a β-H elimination mechanism and point towards a γ-H elimination. The molecular structure of 4 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. (orig.)