Isolation of reactive intermediates in deprotonation reactions with zinc alkylsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental (including selected NMR spectra), computational and crystallographic data. CCDC 869490, 869491 and 869492. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c2cc32057f

Using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and quantum chemical calculations, a model system for metalation reactions, the deprotonation of ( tert -butylamino)(piperidinomethyl)dimethyl-silane ( 1 ) with Et 2 Zn, was established allowing for the isolation of a reactive intermediate, the adduct structure [ 1 ·Et 2 Zn] ( 2 ). Using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and quantum chemical calculations, a model system for metalation reactions, the deprotonation of an (aminomethyl)silazane with Et 2 Zn, was established allowing for the isolation of a reactive intermediate.