Bis(neopentyl)-, bis(trimethylsilylmethyl)- and bis(2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl)- magnesium

Abstract

The magnesium dialkyls Mg(Me₃CCH₂)₂, Mg(Me₃SiCH₂)₂, and Mg(PhMe₂CCH₂)₂ have been isolated as crystalline solids. The last two are insoluble in hydrocarbon solution and non-volatile whereas the former is the only known crystalline, volatile, benzene-soluble, trimeric dialkyl of magnesium. Low-temperature ¹H and ¹³C-{¹H} n.m.r. spectra show that bridge–terminal exchange is rapid at –80 °C. The 2 : 1 diethyl ether complexes of the first two compounds and 1 : 1 NNN′N′-tetramethylethylenediamine complexes are also described.