Azidotrimethylsilane

UsesTrimethylsilyl azide is used as an azidonation reagent for amines, amides, aldehydes and ketones. It is involved in the preparation of alfa- and beta-siloxy azides from carbonyl compounds and epoxides. It is also used in the preparation of heterocyclic compounds and also acts as an effective substitute for hydrazoic acid. Further, it is used in the Oseltamivir total synthesis.

UsesMany applications of TMSA in organic synthesis have been reported but only representative examples are described herein.Substitution Reactions. Benzyl,allyl,and substituted alkyl halides are converted to the corresponding azides in 60–100% yields via reactions with TMSA under neutral conditions in a nonaqueous solvent (eq 1).By using tin(IV) chloride as a catalyst, secondary and tertiary cyclic and polycyclic halides are similarly transformed into the corresponding azides in 50–92% yields (eq 1).

PreparationAzidotrimethylsilane may be synthesised by reacting trimethylchlorosilane with sodium azide in hexamethylphosphoramidic triamide. several methods for the synthesis of this azide have been reported.The procedure involving aluminum chloride is not recommended, since an explosive product is formed.Azidotrimethylsilane is now commercially available, and a representative synthetic procedure is as follows. A mixture of sodium azide and chlorotrimethylsilane is refluxed in di-n-butyl ether for 2 days and the azide is safely distilled directly from the reaction vessel. Purer compound (99% content) is obtained by redistillation of the product. Several improved conditions have been reported for the preparation of this azide.In these procedures, trimethylsilyl chloride is reacted with sodium azide either neat or in a high boiling point solvent, such as a mixture of silicone oil and polyethylene glycol. Distillation of the crude product usually provides trimethylsilyl azide (TMSA) in high purity (97.9%) and yield (97%).