Preparation and structural characterisation of methoxybis(trimethylsilyl)silyl potassium and its condensation product

Depending on the conditions the reaction of tris(trimethylsilyl) methoxysilane (1) with potassium tert-butoxide either in benzene and in the presence of 18-crown-6 or in THF gives either the crown ether adduct of potassium-methoxybis(trimethylsilyl) silane (2), or 2-methoxytetrakis(trimethylsilyl) disilanyl potassium (3).