A convenient route to silyl linked bis(amidinate) ligands and synthesis of group(I) metal derivatives.

A novel type of linked bis(amidinate) ligands (D) were developed successfully. Their lithium derivatives 1-4 were synthesized by treating the silyl-bridged diamines I-IV with two equivalents of LiBu(n) and PhCN in sequence, which underwent a silyl-bridge migration process. In addition, the linked bis(amidinate) configuration proved to be the thermodynamically stable form rather than the mono(amidinate) type by contrasting reaction of I with one equivalent of LiBu(n) and PhCN in sequence.