title: 1,8-Bis(silylamido)naphthalene complexes of magnesium and zinc synthesised through alkane elimination reactions.
abstract: The reactions between magnesium or zinc alkyls and 1,8-bis(triorganosilyl)diaminonaphthalenes afford the 1,8-bis(triorganosilyl)diamidonaphthalene complexes with elimination of alkanes. The reaction between 1,8-C10H6(NSiMePh2H)2and one or two equivalents of MgnBu2affords two complexes with differing coordination environments for the magnesium; the reaction between 1,8-C10H6(NSiMePh2H)2and MgnBu2in a 1 : 1 ratio affords 1,8-C10H6(NSiMePh2)2{Mg(THF)2} (1), which features a single magnesium centre bridging both ligand nitrogen donors, whilst treatment of 1,8-C10H6(NSiR3H)2(R3= MePh2,iPr3) with two equivalents of MgnBu2affords the bimetallic complexes 1,8-C10H6(NSiR3)2{nBuMg(THF)}2(R3= MePh22, R3=iPr33), which feature four-membered Mg2N2rings. Similarly, 1,8-C10H6(NSiiPr3)2{MeMg(THF)}2(4) and 1,8-C10H6(NSiMePh2)2{ZnMe}2(5) are formed through reactions with the proligands and two equivalents of MMe2(M = Mg, Zn). The reaction between 1,8-C10H6(NSiMePh2H)2and two equivalents of MeMgX affords the bimetallic complexes 1,8-C10H6(NSiMePh2)2(XMgOEt2)2(X = Br 6; X = I 7). Very small amounts of [1,8-C10H6(NSiMePh2)2{IMg(OEt2)}]2(8), formed through the coupling of two diamidonaphthalene ligands at the 4-position with concomitant dearomatisation of one of the naphthyl arene rings, were also isolated from a solution of 7.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. Deborah.Kays@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. Deborah.Kays@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birchall
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. Deborah.Kays@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2257-8332
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. Deborah.Kays@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: William
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7103-6981
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. Deborah.Kays@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Graeme J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Moxey
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. Deborah.Kays@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4616-6001
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kays