Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides
Published on: May 26, 2019
Beta-diketiminate-stabilized magnesium(I) dimers and magnesium(II) hydride complexes: synthesis, characterization,
Simon J Bonyhady1, Cameron Jones, Sharanappa Nembenna
1School of Chemistry, Monash University, PO Box 23, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.
Abstract:
The preparation and characterization of a series of magnesium(II) iodide complexes incorporating beta-diketiminate ligands of varying steric bulk and denticity, namely, [(ArNCMe)(2)CH](-) (Ar=phenyl, ((Ph)Nacnac), mesityl ((Mes)Nacnac), or 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (Dipp, (Dipp)Nacnac)), [(DippNCtBu)(2)CH](-) ((tBu)Nacnac), and [(DippNCMe)(Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)NCMe)CH](-) ((Dmeda)Nacnac) are reported. The complexes [((Ph)Nacnac)MgI(OEt(2))], [((Mes)Nacnac)MgI(OEt(2))], [((Dmeda)Nacnac)MgI(OEt(2))], [((Mes)Nacnac)MgI(thf)], [((Dipp)Nacnac)MgI(thf)], [((tBu)Nacnac)MgI], and [((tBu)Nacnac)MgI(DMAP)] (DMAP=4-dimethylaminopyridine) were shown to be monomeric by X-ray crystallography. In addition, the related beta-diketiminato beryllium and calcium iodide complexes, [((Mes)Nacnac)BeI] and [{((Dipp)Nacnac)CaI(OEt(2))}(2)] were prepared and crystallographically characterized. The reductions of all metal(II) iodide complexes by using various reagents were attempted. In two cases these reactions led to the magnesium(I) dimers, [((Mes)Nacnac)MgMg((Mes)Nacnac)] and [((tBu)Nacnac)MgMg((tBu)Nacnac)]. The reduction of a 1:1 mixture of [((Dipp)Nacnac)MgI(OEt(2))] and [((Mes)Nacnac)MgI(OEt(2))] with potassium gave a low yield of the crystallographically characterized complex [((Dipp)Nacnac)Mg(mu-H)(mu-I)Mg((Mes)Nacnac)]. All attempts to form beryllium(I) or calcium(I) dimers by reductions of [((Mes)Nacnac)BeI], [{((Dipp)Nacnac)CaI(OEt(2))}(2)], or [{((tBu)Nacnac)CaI(thf)}(2)] have so far been unsuccessful. The further reactivity of the magnesium(I) complexes [((Mes)Nacnac)MgMg((Mes)Nacnac)] and [((tBu)Nacnac)MgMg((tBu)Nacnac)] towards a variety of Lewis bases and unsaturated organic substrates was explored. These studies led to the complexes [((Mes)Nacnac)Mg(L)Mg(L)((Mes)Nacnac)] (L=THF or DMAP), [((Mes)Nacnac)Mg(mu-AdN(6)Ad)Mg((Mes)Nacnac)] (Ad=1-adamantyl), [((tBu)Nacnac)Mg(mu-AdN(6)Ad)Mg((tBu)Nacnac)], and [((Mes)Nacnac)Mg(mu-tBu(2)N(2)C(2)O(2))Mg((Mes)Nacnac)] and revealed that, in general, the reactivity of the magnesium(I) dimers is inversely proportional to their steric bulk. The preparation and characterization of [((tBu)Nacnac)Mg(mu-H)(2)Mg((tBu)Nacnac)] has shown the compound to have different structural and physical properties to [((tBu)Nacnac)MgMg((tBu)Nacnac)]. Treatment of the former with DMAP has given [((tBu)Nacnac)Mg(H)(DMAP)], the X-ray crystal structure of which disclosed it to be the first structurally authenticated terminal magnesium hydride complex. Although attempts to prepare [((Mes)Nacnac)Mg(mu-H)(2)Mg((Mes)Nacnac)] were not successful, a neutron diffraction study of the corresponding magnesium(I) complex, [((Mes)Nacnac)MgMg((Mes)Nacnac)] confirmed that the compound is devoid of hydride ligands.
More Related Videos
12:59A Study of the Complexation of Mercury(II) with Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: January 8, 2016
11:04Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
Published on: September 7, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Acid Halides to Ketones: Gilman Reagent
As shown below, the mechanism proceeds in two steps. First, one of the alkyl groups of the reagent acts as a nucleophile and attacks the acyl carbon of the acid chloride to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen double...
Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes
Nitriles to Ketones: Grignard Reaction
The mechanism begins with a nucleophilic attack by the Grignard reagent...
Alkenes via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: McMurry Reaction
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Analogous to alkenes, alkynes also undergo acid-catalyzed hydration. While the addition of water to an alkene gives an alcohol, hydration of alkynes produces different products such as aldehydes and ketones.
Properties of Organometallic Compounds