Phenylethynylberyllium complexes
Abstract
Complexes of bis(phenylethynyl)beryllium of the type (PhC⋮C)2Be,2L have been described, in which L is pyridine, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-, dimethyl- and trimethyl-amine, and aniline, and in which L2 is one of the chelate bases tetramethylethylenediamine, 2,2-bipyridyl, and 1,2-dimethoxyethane. The complex (PhC⋮C)2Be,NEt3 is monomeric in benzene and hence contains three-co-ordinate beryllium, whereas (PhC⋮C)2Be,OEt2 is somewhat associated, possibly by means of acetylenic bridging groups.
The lithium complex of approximate composition Li2Be(C⋮CPh)4 is insoluble in hydrocarbons. The reactions between bis(phenylethynyl)beryllium complexes and t-butyl alcohol, phenol, and 2-methylpropane-2-thiol give products exemplified by (PhC⋮CBeOPh,THF)n(n between 1 and 2 in benzene) and (PhC⋮CBeSBut,THF)2. The butoxide, (PhC⋮C)2Be3(OBut)4, prepared by two methods, is a member of a new series of alkoxides of the type R2Be3(OBut)4.
Reactions between alkynes and complexes of diethylberyllium or of methyl- or ethyl-beryllium hydride generally are slow and give mixtures of products.