Reduction of azocompounds with a system of a trialkylchlorosilane and lithium has been found to afford bis(trialkylsilyl)amines in the presence of a transition metal halide as a catalyst in THF. The reaction course was significantly modified by using t-butyldimethylchlorosilane as a trialkylchlorosilane.
major products. Spectroscopic investigations (UV) suggested that phenyldiazene was formed as an intermediate which afforded the final reaction products. Chemical evidence for the formation of phenyldiazene was obtained by the reaction of Ia with methanol-d in nonane. Phenylazotriorganosilanes are convenient precursors for phenyldiazene.