Magnesium complexes supported by a dianionic double layer nitrogen–phosphorus ligand: a synthesis and reactivity study.

A heterobimetallic complex [MeN(CH2CH2NPiPr)2MgLiCl(THF)]2 (1) supported by a dianionic double layer nitrogen–phosphorus ligand was synthesized by the reaction of H2L1 (H2L1 = MeN(CH2CH2NHPiPr)2) with MgCl2 in the presence of n-BuLi. Reactions of complex 1 with 2 equivalents of CuI, AgI and AuCl·SMe2 led to the formation of heterobimetallic clusters [MeN(CH2CH2NPiPr)2MgCuI]2 (2), [MeN(CH2CH2NPiPr)2MgAgI]2 (3) and [MeN(CH2CH2NPiPr)2MgAuCl]2 (4), respectively. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis revealed that these complexes are dimers, which are composed of two [MeN(CH2CH2NPiPr)2Mg] units connected by coinage metals (i.e., Cu, Ag, and Au). The reactivity of 1 was further investigated and it was found that complex 1 could react with 4 equivalents of MeI, giving a complex [CH3N(CH2CH2N＝PiPr2Me)2MgI]+[I]− (5), which can be viewed as a magnesium complex supported by a neutral double layer nitrogen–phosphorus ligand (CH3N(CH2CH2N＝PiPr2Me)2). Complex 1 could also react with 2 equivalents of NaNH2, leading to the isolation of an amido anion bridged magnesium–sodium heterobimetallic cluster [MeN(CH2CH2NPiPr)2MgNaNH2]2 (6). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]