Top cat: [(NHC)Yb{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2)] adducts (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) are efficient catalysts for catalytic cross-dehydrogenative coupling of silanes with a range of primary and secondary amines to yield silylamines in high yields (82-100%) under mild reaction conditions. The catalytic activity and selectivity of the rare-earth-metal silylamides are modulated by altering the steric bulk of the NHC.
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