Silyl-nitrogen compounds: Part XII - Mode of addition reactions in trisila-phospha-triazene

Tris(trimethylsilyl)-2-phospha-1-triazene (Me3Si)(2)N-P=N(SiMe3) (1) reacts with alkyllithium RU (R = Me, Bu) to form an intermediate amide at low tem perature, which rearranges into phosphoranide at room temperature. The inte rmediate amide reacts with Me3SnCl to form phosphine, (Me3Si)(2)N-P(R)- N(S iMe3)(SnMe3) which rearranges slowly at room temperature to form phosphoran e (Me3Si)(2)N-P(R)(SnMe3)(=NSiMe3). However, a similar silyl derivative (Me 3Si)(2)N-P(R)-N(SiMe3)(2) is stable at room temperature and does not migrat e intramolecularly into phosphorane.