Preparation, crystal structure, and reactivity of bis {tris(trimethylsilyl) methyl} magnesium (original) (raw)

1994, Journal of Organometallic Chemistry

Heating of the lithium magnesate [Li(THF)2(~-Br)zMBsiM~F)] (Tsi = (Me&C) under vacuum gives the dialkylmagnesium compound Mg(Tsi),, the first two-coordinate magnesium derivative to have been structurally characterized in the solid state. The compound is remarkably thermally stable, not decomposing (or melting) when heated to 350°C. It has a very low reactivity, failing to react in toluene with, for example, CO*, Me&Cl, Me,SiHCl, MeI, BCl, or CHsCOCl, and even with neat CH,COcI at its boiling point. I! does react, though fairly slowly, with I, in toluene to give TsiI, and more rapidly with Br, to give TsiBr, and with an excess of PhSO,Cl in toluene at 100°C to give TsiCl. It decomposes quickly in the air, and reacts readily with MeOH in toluene to give TsiH without formation of detectable amounts of the intermediate TsiMgOMe, and with 0, in toluene.