Monometallation of a di(aminoaryl) ether induces a Smiles rearrangement leading to a sodium aryloxide complex: the synthesis and crystal structure of [(MeOCH2CH2)(C6H4NHCH2CH2OMe)NC6H4O·Na]2

Abstract

The title compound was synthesised by 1 : 1 reaction of sodium hydride with a di(aminoaryl) ether ligand in toluene–hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) solution; X-ray crystallography revealed that an in situ Smiles rearrangement of the ligand had taken place to give a dimeric aryloxide sodium complex, which is in stark contrast to previous results obtained by 2 : 1 reaction of BuⁿLi with the ligand in the absence of HMPA.