Post-coordination backbone functionalization of an imidazol-2-ylidene and its application to synthesize heteropolymetallic complexes incorporating the ambidentate IMesCO2− ligand

Abstract

Backbone functionalization of the pre-coordinated, emblematic IMes ligand with the COOH moiety was achieved upon treatment of Cp(CO)₂Mn(IMes) with n-BuLi followed by CO₂ and HCl to afford Cp(CO)₂Mn(IMes^COOH). The latter reacts with (1,10-phen)M(OAc)₂ (M = Cu, Zn) to obtain M₃Mn₄ polymetallic complexes exhibiting the ambidentate IMes^CO₂− moiety as a key structural unit.