Synthesis of disilanylamines through transamination

1. A process for preparing a silanylamine compound, the process comprising reacting a starting compound of general formula

RR 1 N—(Si x H 2x+1 )  (I)

with an amine compound of general formula

R 2 R 3 NH  (II)

to produce the silanylamine compound of general formula

R 2 m R 3 n —N(Si x H 2x+1 ) 3-m-n   (III)

wherein

R and R 1 are independently a hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group having 5 to 10 carbon atoms;

R 2 is H;

R 3 is a silane of formula —Si x H 2x+1 ;

x is an integer from 2 to 10; and

m and n are 0.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the starting compound of formula (I) comprises a dialkyldisilanylamine.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein R and R 1 of the starting compound of formula (I) comprise a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 2 to 4.

4. The process according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein R and R 1 of the starting compound of formula (I) comprise a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 2 to 3.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the starting compound of formula (I) comprises diisopropyldisilanylamine.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein x is an integer from 2 to 3 in the amine compound of formula (II).

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the amine of formula (II) is bis-disilanylamine.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the silanylamine compound of formula (III) comprises tris(disilanyl)amine.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of formula (II) to formula (I) is from 0.1:1 to 100:1.