Sterically bulky amido magnesium methyl complexes: syntheses, structures and catalysis

Abstract

A series of bulky secondary amines were treated with two equiv. Grignard reagent MeMgI at low temperature to yield the corresponding magnesium methyl complexes (1–4) in high yields. The prepared complexes have been comprehensively characterized. All four complexes exhibited very high reactivity as efficient pre-catalysts in the catalytic hydroboration of ketones with pinacolborane under mild conditions and at low catalyst loadings.