Hetero-bimetallic alkali titanosilicates [MOTi{OSi(OBu)}] (M = Li-Cs) with terminal Ti-O groups.

The molecular titanosilicate [(BuO)SiO]TiNEt (1) was obtained from the reaction between silanol (BuO)SiOH and titanium amide Ti(NEt). The reaction of 1 with alkali metal hydroxides MOH (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) offers a straightforward route to the alkaline salts of titanosilicates [MOTi{OSi(OBu)}] with a terminal Ti-O moiety. All compounds were characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Hirshfeld atom refinement and QTAIM analysis of the electron density in 1 and in the Rb salt 5 revealed the D-A nature of the Ti-O and Ti-N bonds and the presence of agostic C-H⋯Rb interactions.