Homocoupling of C1 building blocks by a heterometallic Mg–Al complex

Abstract

A heterometallic magnesium–aluminium hydride complex is reported for the selective homologation of C₁ building blocks (CO and CNXyl, Xyl = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) to form products containing C₂ and C₃ chains. CO reacts to form known deltate or ethynediolate motifs with different outcomes depending on the steric demands of the ligand on magnesium. In contrast, CNXyl reacts through a combination of carbon–carbon bond formation and hydride migration to form a novel metalated ethene diamidolate ligand [RN¹C¹C²(H)N²R]³⁻.