COMPOUNDS WITH Zn–Zn AND Mg–Mg BONDS - DECAMETHYLDIZINCOCENE AND β‐DIKETIMINATO COMPLEXES OF MAGNESIUM(I) AND (II): 3-3 β-DIKETIMINATO COMPLEXES OFMAGNESIUM(I)/(II)

The chemistry of stable magnesium(I) complexes was initiated in 2007 with the
preparation of the bulky guanidinate and β-diketiminate chelated dimeric complexes, {(L)Mg−Mg(L)} (L = {(DippN)2CNPr,Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl).i2}
− or {(DippNCMe)2CH} − These, and several subsequently reported β-diketiminato
magnesium(I) dimers, were prepared via alkali metal reductions of magnesium(II)
iodide precursor complexes. 1 They are thermally stable to temperatures in excess
of 150 C, only moderately air sensitive in the solid state, and easily handled and
exhibit good solubility in several organic solvents. These properties have lent
β-diketiminato magnesium(I) dimers, in particular, to use as specialist reducing
agents in a variety of organic and inorganic synthetic methodologies.
2–4 With respect to the latter, magnesium(I) complexes are increasingly allowing access to novel compound types that are not accessible with more “traditional” reducing agents, e.g. s-block metals and KC8. This contribution describes the preparations of two β-diketiminato magnesium(I) dimers and their magnesium(II) iodide precursor complexes. 3, 4