Structure and reactivity studies of transition metals ligated by tBuSi3X (X = O, NH, N, S, and CC).

Use of the (t)Bu(3)Si group can sterically protect O, N, S, and acetylide donors, enabling chemistry at low-coordinate transition metal centers. This article provides examples from these laboratories on the utilization of (t)Bu(3)SiO(-), (t)Bu(3)SiNH(-), (t)Bu(3)SiN(2-), (t)Bu(3)SiS(-) and (t)Bu(3)SiCC(-) as ligands in exploratory synthesis and reactivity studies of transition metal complexes.