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Attempts to create a novel Mg−Be bond by reaction of [(DIPePBDI*)MgNa]2 with Be[N(SiMe3)2]2 failed; DIPePBDI*=HC[(tBu)C=N(DIPeP)]2, DIPeP=2,6‐Et2C‐phenyl. Even at elevated temperatures, no conversion was observed. This is likely caused by strong steric shielding of the Be center. A similar reaction with the more open Cp*BeCl gave in quantitative yield (DIPePBDI*)MgBeCp* (1). The crystal structure shows a Mg−Be bond of 2.469(4) Å. Homolytic cleavage of the Mg−Be bond requires ΔH=69.6 kcal mol−1 (cf. CpBe−BeCp 69.0 kcal mol−1 and (DIPPBDI)Mg−Mg(DIPPBDI) 55.8 kcal mol−1). Natural‐Population‐Analysis (NPA) shows fragment charges: (DIPePBDI*)Mg +0.27/BeCp* −0.27. The very low NPA charge on Be (+0.62) compared to Mg (+1.21) and the strongly upfield 9Be NMR signal at −23.7 ppm are in line with considerable electron density on Be and the formal oxidation state assignment of MgII−Be0. Despite this Mgδ+−Beδ− polarity, 1 is extremely thermally stable and unreactive towards H2, CO, N2, cyclohexene and carbodiimide. It reacted with benzophenone, azobenzene, phenyl acetylene, CO2 and CS2. Reaction with 1‐adamantyl azide led to reductive coupling and formation of an N6‐chain. The azide reagent also inserted in the Cp*−Be bond. The inertness of 1 is likely due to bulky ligands protecting the Mg−Be unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction of [Mg(NON)]2 ([NON]2− = [O(SiMe2NDipp)2]2−, Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) affords Mg(I) species containing NON- and NNO-ligands ([NNO]2− = [N(Dipp)SiMe2N(Dipp)SiMe2O]2−). The products of reactions with iPrN＝C＝NiPr and CO are consistent with the presence of reducing Mg(I) centres. Extraction with THF affords [K(THF)2]2[(NNO)Mg–Mg(NNO)] with a structurally characterised Mg–Mg bond that was examined using density functional theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low‐valent GaI complex with the superbulky β‐diketiminate ligand DIPePBDI (HC[C(Me)N−DIPeP]2, DIPeP=2,6‐C(H)Et2‐phenyl)) was obtained by reduction of (DIPePBDI)GaI2 (1) with KC8 in toluene. Considering that (BDI)GaI and analogue (BDI)AlI complexes are prone to decomposition and can generally only be obtained in low yields (20–40 %), the quantitative formation of (DIPePBDI)GaI (2) is remarkable and no doubt related to its excellent thermal stability even in refluxing toluene. Although the low‐valent metal center in 2 is sterically protected by the superbulky DIPePBDI ligand, it is readily oxidized by N2O to give intermediate (DIPePBDI)Ga=O which readily decomposed by abstracting a proton from the backbone Me‐substituent. Reaction with trimethylsilyl azide gave an intermediate imido complex (DIPePBDI)Ga=N(SiMe3)2 which reacted with a second equivalent of Me3SiN3 to a mixture of an azide/amido complex (DIPePBDI)GaN3[N(SiMe3)2] (4) and a tetrazagallole complex (DIPePBDI)Ga[N4(SiMe3)2] (5) in a 1 : 2 ratio. Whereas the azide/amido complex 4 could be structurally characterised, the tetraazagallole complex 5 was identified by NMR spectroscopy. DFT calculations on (DIPePBDI)GaI (2) and its reaction products complement this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoanionic N,N‐chelating triazenide ligands, [R‐NNN‐R]−, are compared to formamidinate or β‐diketiminate ligands considerably less electron‐donating and therefore potentially suitable for stabilizing electron rich metals in low oxidations states. A feature reported for silyl‐substituted triazenide ligands, is their ability to eliminate N2 resulting in (R3Si)2N− anions. Here we describe a series of group 1 and 2 metal complexes with the very bulky bis‐silyl‐triazenide ligand [tBu3Si‐NNN‐SitBu3]−. Heteroleptic complexes could be isolated for Mg: {[(tBu3Si)2N3]MgnBu}2 or {[(tBu3Si)2N3]MgI}2, including its ether adducts. Despite bulky silyl substituents, the ligand did not stabilize heteroleptic [(tBu3Si)2N3]AeN(SiMe3)2 complexes for Ca, Sr and Ba and only homoleptic Ae[(tBu3Si)2N3]2 complexes were isolated. Thermal decomposition of these complexes did result in N2 elimination and formation of the expected amide complexes. Reduction of [(tBu3Si)2N3]MgI ⋅ (Et2O) with KC8 in Et2O led to the formation of a MgI complex with a Mg−Mg bond length of 2.902(1) Å. As only one of the Mg centres shows coordination with a Et2O ligand, this is a rare example of an asymmetric Mg−Mg bond. This MgI complex is rather unstable in benzene solution, likely due to reduction of the ligand system. Triazenide ligands are therefore not suitable for stabilization of group 2 metals in low oxidation states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrocarbon‐soluble barium anthracene complex was prepared by means of metal vapour synthesis. Reaction of 9,10‐bis(trimethylsilyl)anthracene (Anth′′) with barium vapour gave deep purple Ba(Anth′′) which after extraction with diethyl ether crystallised as the cyclic octamer [Ba(Anth′′)⋅Et2O]8. Dissolution in benzene or toluene led to replacement of the Et2O ligand with a softer arene ligand and isolation of Ba(Anth′′)⋅arene. Diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY NMR) measurements in benzene‐d6 indicate solution species with a molecular weight that equals a trimeric constitution. Natural population analysis (NPA) assigned charges of +1.70 and −1.70 to Ba and Anth′′, respectively, relating to highly ionic Ba2+/Anth′′2− bonding. Preliminary reactivity studies with air, Ph2C=NPh, or H2 show that the complex reacts as a Ba0 synthon by release of neutral Anth′′. This soluble molecular Ba0/BaII redox synthon provides new routes for the syntheses of barium complexes under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐valent MgI complexes like (BDI)Mg−Mg(BDI) have found wide‐spread application as specialty reducing agents (BDI=β‐diketiminate). Also their redox reactivity was extensively investigated. In contrast, attempts to isolate similar CaI complexes led to reduction of the aromatic solvents or N2. Complex (DIPePBDI)Ca(μ6,μ6‐C6H6)Ca(DIPePBDI) (VIII) should be regarded a CaII complex with a bridging C6H62− dianion (DIPePBDI=HC[C(Me)N‐DIPeP]2, DIPeP=2,6‐C(H)Et2‐phenyl). It can react as a CaI synthon by releasing benzene and two electrons. Herein we describe the reactivity of VIII with benzene, biphenyl, naphthalene, anthracene, COT, Ph3SiCl, PhSiH3, a (BDI)AlI2 complex, H2, PhX (X=F, Cl, Br, I), tBuOH and tBuCH2I. The C6H62− dianion in VIII can react as a 2e− source, a nucleophile or a Brønsted base. In some cases radical reactivity cannot be excluded. Crystal structures of (DIPePBDI)Ca(μ8,μ8‐COT)Ca(DIPePBDI) (1) and [(DIPePBDI)CaX ⋅ (THF)]2 (X=F, Cl, Br, I) (2–5) are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex [(DIPePBDI)Ca]2(C6H6), with a C6H62− dianion bridging two Ca2+ ions, reacts with benzene to yield [(DIPePBDI)Ca]2(biphenyl) with a bridging biphenyl2− dianion (DIPePBDI=HC[C(Me)N‐DIPeP]2; DIPeP=2,6‐CH(Et)2‐phenyl). The biphenyl complex was also prepared by reacting [(DIPePBDI)Ca]2(C6H6) with biphenyl or by reduction of [(DIPePBDI)CaI]2 with KC8 in presence of biphenyl. Benzene‐benzene coupling was also observed when the deep purple product of ball‐milling [(DIPPBDI)CaI(THF)]2 with K/KI was extracted with benzene (DIPP=2,6‐CH(Me)2‐phenyl) giving crystalline [(DIPPBDI)Ca(THF)]2(biphenyl) (52 % yield). Reduction of [(DIPePBDI)SrI]2 with KC8 gave highly labile [(DIPePBDI)Sr]2(C6H6) as a black powder (61 % yield) which reacts rapidly and selectively with benzene to [(DIPePBDI)Sr]2(biphenyl). DFT calculations show that the most likely route for biphenyl formation is a pathway in which the C6H62− dianion attacks neutral benzene. This is facilitated by metal‐benzene coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempts to stabilise a TmII metal centre with the bulky β-diketiminate ligand HC[C(Me)=N(DIPP)]2 (BDI) failed (DIPP, 2,6-diisopropylphenyl). Reaction of TmI2 and 2 equiv. (BDI)K gave the TmIII complex (BDI)(BDI-H)Tm (1) in which (BDI-H)2− is a doubly deprotonated ligand. However, following the same route, (BDI)2Sm (2) was isolated in 48% crystalline yield. Complex 2 is highly soluble in aromatic solvents or alkanes and was reacted with various reagents like phenazine, PhSSPh, O2, NO, cuminil and fluorenone. This led to isolation and structural characterisation of the following SmIII complexes: [(BDI)2Sm]2(μ-phenazine) (3), [(BDI)Sm(SPh)(μ-SPh)]2 (4), (BDI)(BDI-H)Sm (5a), (BDI)2Sm(OC13H8) (6) and (BDI)2Sm(NO2) (7). The rich redox reactivity of (BDI)2Sm (2) and its very high solubility in apolar solvents like hexane make it an attractive reducing agent in synthesis. The structure and synthesis of a low-valent β-diketiminate SmII complex are reported and its redox reactivity with various reagents was investigated. With a rich redox reactivity, the SmII complex is an easy-to-prepare, attractive reducing agent that is soluble in apolar organic solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempts to stabilise a TmII metal centre with the bulky β-diketiminate ligand HC[C(Me)=N(DIPP)]2 (BDI) failed (DIPP, 2,6-diisopropylphenyl). Reaction of TmI2 and 2 equiv. (BDI)K gave the TmIII complex (BDI)(BDI-H)Tm (1) in which (BDI-H)2− is a doubly deprotonated ligand. However, following the same route, (BDI)2Sm (2) was isolated in 48% crystalline yield. Complex 2 is highly soluble in aromatic solvents or alkanes and was reacted with various reagents like phenazine, PhSSPh, O2, NO, cuminil and fluorenone. This led to isolation and structural characterisation of the following SmIII complexes: [(BDI)2Sm]2(μ-phenazine) (3), [(BDI)Sm(SPh)(μ-SPh)]2 (4), (BDI)(BDI-H)Sm (5a), (BDI)2Sm(OC13H8) (6) and (BDI)2Sm(NO2) (7). The rich redox reactivity of (BDI)2Sm (2) and its very high solubility in apolar solvents like hexane make it an attractive reducing agent in synthesis. The structure and synthesis of a low-valent β-diketiminate SmII complex are reported and its redox reactivity with various reagents was investigated. With a rich redox reactivity, the SmII complex is an easy-to-prepare, attractive reducing agent that is soluble in apolar organic solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focused-electron-beam-induced deposition (FEBID) is a powerful nanopatterning technique where electrons trigger the local dissociation of precursor molecules, leaving a deposit of non-volatile dissociation products. The fabrication of high-purity gold deposits via FEBID has significant potential to expand the scope of this method. For this, gold precursors that are stable under ambient conditions but fragment selectively under electron exposure are essential. Here, we investigated the potential gold precursor (CH3)AuP(CH3)3 using FEBID under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and spectroscopic characterization of the corresponding metal-containing deposits. For a detailed insight into electron-induced fragmentation, the deposit's composition was compared with the fragmentation pathways of this compound through dissociative ionization (DI) under single-collision conditions using quantum chemical calculations to aid the interpretation of these data. Further comparison was made with a previous high-vacuum (HV) FEBID study of this precursor. The average loss of about 2 carbon and 0.8 phosphor per incident was found in DI, which agreed well with the carbon content of the UHV FEBID deposits. However, the UHV deposits were found to be as good as free of phosphor, indicating that the trimethyl phosphate is a good leaving group. Differently, the HV FEBID experiments showed significant phosphor content in the deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first hydrocarbon-soluble homometallic calcium hydroxide complex is synthesized by stabilizing the Ca-OH functionality by the Ch[{(CMe)(2,6-[super i][Pr.sub.2][C.sub.6][H.sub.3]N)}.sub.2] (DIPP-nacnac) ligand system. The hydrocarbon-soluble calcium hydroxide has reacted rapidly with C[O.sub.2] to produce a gel, which has allowed for sol-gel coating with CaC[O.sub.3] from an organic solvent.

The first molecular structure of an alkaline-earth-metal carbene complex is presented. This calcium bis(iminophosphorno)methandiide chelate complex crystallizes as a dimer in which the carbene carbons bridge the metal centers.