The Formation of Metal-Chalcogen Bonds by the Reaction of Metal Alkyls with Silylchalcogenides.

We demonstrate that M-E covalent bonds (M=Cd, Zn; E=S, Se, Te) are formed by the reactions of metal alkyls (MR sub 2, R=CH sub 3, C sub 2 H sub 5) with silylchalcogenides (R'ESiR" R'=Ph, SiR sub 3 "; R"=CH sub 3, CH(CH sub 3) sub 2). The by-products of these reactions are simple tetraalkylsilanes which evaporate under the reaction conditions employed. We show that the dealkylsilylation can be used in the syntheses of both molecular and solid state compounds.