thumb|Structure of the silazane (Me<sub>3</sub>SiN)<sub>3</sub>(SiMe<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub>.
A silazane is a family of compounds with Si-N bonds. Usually the Si and N have organic substituents. They are analogous to siloxanes, with -NR- (R = alkyl, aryl) replacing -O-.
Examples
One illustrative family of silazanes are derived from tert-butylamine, including (CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>SiN(H)tBu and (CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>Si(N(H)tBu)<sub>2</sub>.
More structurally complex is [CH<sub>3</sub>SiN(H)tBu]<sub>2</sub>(μ-N(H)tBu)<sub>2</sub> with bridging amides.
There are a wide variety of polysilazanes.
Reactions
The majority of silazanes are moisture sensitive. With water they convert to silanols or siloxanes.
See also
- Phosphazene
- Paraformaldehyde