The preparation and crystal structures of the sterically hindered lithium alkylchloroacadmate [Li(thf)4][Li(thf)2(µ-Cl)4{CdC(SiMe3)3}2].thf (thf = tetrahydrofuran), the alkylcadmium halides [{Cd[C(SiMe3)3]Cl}4] and [{Cd[C(SiMe2Ph)3]Br}2], and the hydrate [{Cd[C(SiMe2Ph)3]Br(H2O)}]2.(thf)

Abstract

Tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl-lithium reacts with cadmium(II) chloride in tetrahydrofuran (thf) to give the lithium salt [Li(thf)₄][Li(thf)₂(µ-Cl)₄{CdC(SiMe₃)₃}₂].thf, which has a chloride-bridged anion and on heating gives tetrameric chloro[tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl]cadmium; bromo[tris(dimethylphenylsilyl)methyl]cadmium is dimeric in the solid, and, on recrystallisation from wet thf forms the hydrate [{Cd[C(SiMe₂Ph)₃]Br(H₂O)}₂].thf.