Insertion of CS2 into the Mg–H bond: synthesis and structural characterization of the magnesium dithioformate complex, [TismPriBenz]Mg(κ2-S2CH)

Abstract

The tris[(1-isopropylbenzimidazol-2-yl)dimethylsilyl]methyl magnesium hydride compound, [Tism^PriBenz]MgH, undergoes insertion of CS₂ into the Mg–H bond at room temperature to give [Tism^PriBenz]Mg(κ²-S₂CH), the first structurally characterized magnesium dithioformate compound. The dithioformate complex [Tism^PriBenz]Mg(κ²-S₂CH) reacts with (i) CO₂ at 80 °C to give, inter alia, the formate counterpart, [Tism^PriBenz]Mg(κ²-O₂CH), and (ii) Me₃SiX (X = Cl, Br), Me₃SnX (X = F, Cl, Br) and MeI to afford the halide derivatives, [Tism^PriBenz]MgX.