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In most main group element compounds, the valence electrons of the isolated atoms combine to form chemical bonds that satisfy the octet rule. For instance, the four valence electrons of carbon overlap with electrons from four hydrogen atoms to form CH4. The one valence electron leaves sodium and adds to the seven valence electrons of chlorine to form the ionic formula unit NaCl (Figure 1a). Transition metals do not normally bond in this fashion. They primarily form coordinate covalent bonds, a...

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Metallocene Coordination to Neutral Alkaline Earth Metal Complexes.

Joseph M Parr¹, Jeremy Mullins¹, Matthew J Evans¹

¹School of Chemistry, Monash University, PO Box 23, Victoria, 3800, Australia.

Chemistry, an Asian Journal

|September 22, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study details the formation of novel complexes between magnesium diamide and metallocenes, and heavier group 2 metal amides with ferrocene. These interactions are primarily driven by electrostatic forces, offering insights into organometallic chemistry.

Keywords:

Arene complex Bulky ligand Diamide Group 2 metal Metallocene

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Area of Science:

Organometallic Chemistry
Coordination Chemistry
Main Group Chemistry

Background:

Lewis acidic magnesium diamide complexes exhibit unique coordination behavior.
Heavier group 2 metal amides are explored for their reactivity with metallocenes.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize and characterize novel complexes of magnesium and heavier group 2 metals with metallocenes.
To investigate the nature of metal-metal interactions in these complexes.

Main Methods:

Synthesis of magnesium diamide complex [Mg(EtNONTCHP)].
Complexation reactions with various metallocenes (Cp2M, M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni).
Synthesis of heavier group 2 metal amide complexes [M(EtNONTCHP){N(H)(SiMe3)2}] (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) and their reaction with ferrocene.

Main Results:

Formation of [Mg(EtNONTCHP)(η2-Cp2M)] complexes with η2-coordination of one cyclopentadienyl ring to magnesium.
Formation of [M(EtNONTCHP)(η5-Cp2Fe)] complexes with η5-coordination of one cyclopentadienyl ring to the group 2 metal.
Computational studies indicate predominantly electrostatic interactions between the metallocene and the group 2 metal center.

Conclusions:

Geometrically constrained magnesium diamide complexes readily form adducts with metallocenes.
Heavier group 2 metal amides can coordinate metallocenes through η5-cyclopentadienyl interactions.
The bonding in these metallocene-group 2 metal complexes is largely electrostatic.