Metal (Li, K, SnII and HgII) complexes of the 1,3-diazaallyl [N(R)C(Ph)NC(Ph)CR2]– (R = SiMe3)

Abstract

The new lithium 1,3-diazaallyl [Li{N(R)C(Ph)NC(Ph)CR₂}] 1 [abbreviated as Li(L–L′)] has been prepared from [Li(CR₃)(thf)₂] and 2 equivalents of benzonitrile (R = SiMe₃, thf = C₄H₈O). Compound 1 was shown to be a suitable precursor for the synthesis of the metal complexes [SnCl(L–L′)] 2, [Sn(L–L′)₂] 3 and [Hg(L–L′)₂] 4 from the appropriate metal(II) chloride, while the reduction of 2 with potassium–graphite led in high yield to [{K(µ-L–L′)}₂] 5. Each of the compounds was fully characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and for 3–5 by X-ray diffraction.