Addition of organoberyllium hydrides to some cyanides

Abstract

Methylberyllium hydride in trimethylamine rapidly adds to organic cyanides yielding dimeric methyleneamino-complexes [Me(RCHN)Be,NMe₃]₂(R = Bu^t, Ph, o-MeC₆H₄, or m-MeC₆H₄). Pyridine replaces trimethylamine in benzylideneamino(methyl)beryllium without cleaving the Be₂N₂ ring, giving (MeBeNCHPh,py)₂. t-Butyl-beryllium hydride behaves similarly giving [Bu^t(RCHN) Be,py]₂. With the latter further addition does not occur. Di-t-butylberyllium forms 2 : 1 co-ordination complexes with PhCN, rather than reducing the carbon–nitrogen triple bond.