PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIS-(TRIMETHYLSILYL)AMINOALANES [H2ALN(SIME3)(2)]CENTER-DOT-NME3 AND (HA1[N(SIME3)(2)](2))(N) - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE DETERMINATION FOR TRIS-(TRIMETHYLSILYL)ALANE TRIMETHYLAMINEADDUCT (ME3SI)(3)AL-CENTER-DOT-NME3

The adduct [H2AlN(SiMe3)(2)]. NMe3 (1) is obtained in high yield from the reaction between H3Al . NMe3 and HN(SiMe3)(2). Thermal decompositi on of 1 results in disproportionation with formation of hydrogen, free NMe3, elemental aluminum, and {HAl[N(SiMe3)(2)](2)}(n) (2). Attempted synthesis of a copolymer from the reaction of [H2AlN(SiMe3)(2)]. NMe, (1) with [(Me3Si)(2)AlNH2](2) results in the unexpected formation of tris-(trimethylsilyl)alane trimethylamine adduct, (Me3Si)(3)Al . NMe3 (3), for which the crystal structure was determined: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 8.9770(10)Angstrom, b = 15.930(3)Angstrom, c = 15. 980(3)Angstrom, V = 2285.1(10)Angstrom(3), Z = 8, D = 0.888 g cm(-3), R = 7.07%. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.