Silicon–nitrogen compounds. Part VI. The preparation and properties of disilazane

Abstract

Disilazane, a long-postulated intermediate in the preparation of trisilylamine, has been made in high yield from diphenylaminosilane and ammonia at low temperatures. Its physical properties, including infrared and mass spectra, are reported and discussed. Gaseous disilazane is stable either alone at 150° or with ammonia at room temperature. Liquid disilazane at 0° decomposes slowly to give trisilylamine and ammonia, while liquid ammonia at –130° rapidly causes disproportionation about silicon. Although disilazane is a very weak Lewis base, it reacts readily with iodosilane to give trisilylamine.