title: Stable magnesium(I) compounds with Mg-Mg bonds.
abstract: The chemistry of the group 2 metals (beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium) is dominated by the +2 oxidation state. Here, we report the reductions of two magnesium(II) iodide complexes with potassium metal in toluene, leading to thermally stable magnesium(I) compounds, (L)MgMg(L) (where L is [(Ar)NC(NPri2)N(Ar)]- or {[(Ar)NC(Me)]2CH}-, Ar is 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, Me is methyl, and Pri is isopropyl) in moderate yields. The results of x-ray crystallographic and theoretical studies are consistent with central Mg2+(2) units that have single, covalent magnesium-magnesium bonding interactions with 2.8508 +/- 0.0012 (standard deviation) and 2.8457 +/- 0.0008 angstrom bond lengths, respectively, and predominantly ionic interactions with the anionic ligands (L).
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Monash University, Post Office Box 23, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Shaun P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stasch