A Versatile Bulky Bidentate Ligand for Both Main Group and Transition Metals. Derivatives of Lithium, Potassium, Magnesium, Chromium, Manganese, and Cobalt Containing the C(SiMe3)2(SiMe2C5H4N-2) Group

The compound HC(SiMe3)2(SiMe2C5H4N-2), 1, reacts with methyllithium in THF to give a good yield of the lithium derivative which has been isolated as a molecular THF adduct 2. This reacts (a) with KOtBu to give 3, which crystallizes in a solvent-free ionic lattice, (b) with MgBr2 to give the Grignard reagent 4, and (c) with CrCl2 to give Cr{C(SiMe3)2(SiMe2C5H4N-2)}2, 5, along with the halide-bridged Grignard reagent analogue 6, which crystallizes in a lattice containing alternate THF-free molecules (6a) and molecules (6b) with coordinated THF. The reactions of 2 with MnCl2 and CoBr2 give the halide-bridged ate complexes 7, and 8, respectively.