A kinetic study of the silyl substitution in tantalum amide silyl complex [([Me.sub.3]N).sub.3]Ta[[Si[(Si[Me.sub.3]).sub.3]].sub.2]

Kinetic studies are performed for the substitution of the first silyl ligand in [([Me.sub.3]N).sub.3]Ta[[Si[(Si[Me.sub.3]).sub.3]].sub.2] by Li[(THF).sub.3]SiBu[super i][Ph.sub.2] (THF = tetrahydrofuran). The results have shown that the reaction might follow a dissociative pathway in the presence of excess Li[(THF).sub.3]SiBu[super i][Ph.sub.2] and the polar solvent THF has promoted the substitution.