Cobalt(-i) triphos dinitrogen complexes: activation and silyl-functionalisation of N2

Abstract

The cobalt dinitrogen complexes [{(EP₃^Ph)Co(μ-N₂)}₂Mg(THF)₄], with triphos ligand scaffolds (EP₃^Ph, E = N or CMe), were prepared via two electron reductions of the Co(I) precursors [CoCl(EP₃^Ph)]. Both complexes showed high degrees of N₂ activation owing to the formation of a rare M–NN–Mg–NN–M bridging-magnesium core. These systems showed further N₂ functionalisation reactivity by silylation, forming silyldiazenido complexes [(EP₃^Ph)Co(NNSiMe₃)].