C-N And C-H Activation Of An N-Heterocyclic Carbene By Magnesium(Ii) Hydride And Magnesium(I) Complexes

Reactions of the hindered N-heterocyclic carbene, :C{(MesNCH)(2)} (IMes; Mes = mesityl), with a series of beta-diketiminatomagnesium(II) hydride and dimagnesium(I) complexes were carried out at 80 degrees C. The reactions involving the magnesium hydrides, [{((Ar)Nacnac)Mg(mu-H)}(2)] [(Ar)Nacnac = [(ArNCMe)(2)CH](-), where Ar = 2,6-diethylphenyl (Dep) or 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (Dip)], proceeded via activation of an exocyclic C-N bond of IMes, giving magnesium imidazolyl compounds [((Ar)Nacnac)Mg(mu-H)(mu-Imid)Mg((Ar)Nacnac)] (Imid = [NC2H2N-(Mes)C](-)) and mesitylene. A low-yield IMes methyl C-H activation product, [((Dep)Nacnac)Mg(IMes(-H))], was also obtained, via H-2 elimination, from the reaction between IMes and [{((Dep)Nacnac)Mg(mu-H)}(2)]. Reactions between IMes and dimagnesium(I) compounds [{((Ar)Nacnac)Mg}(2)] [Ar = 2,6-dimethylphenyl (Xyl) or Mes] afforded isostructural C-H activation products [((Ar)Nacnac)Mg(IMes(-H))] but in higher yields. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the reactions do not progress via stable adduct complex intermediates, which are sterically inaccessible.