Recently, we have witnessed significant progress with regard to the synthesis of molecular alkaline earth metal reagents and catalysts. To provide new precursors for light alkaline earth metal chemistry, molecular aryloxide and alkoxide complexes of beryllium and magnesium are reported. The reaction of beryllium chloride dietherate with two equivalents of 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidizol-2-ylidine (sIPr) results in the formation of a bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) (NHC) beryllium dichloride complex, (sIPr)2BeCl2 (1). Compound 1 reacts with lithium diisopropylphenoxide (LiODipp) or sodium ethoxide (NaOEt) to form the terminal aryloxide (sIPr)Be(ODipp)2 (2) and alkoxide dimer [(sIPr)Be(OEt)Cl]2 (3), respectively. Compounds 2 and 3 represent the first beryllium alkoxide and aryloxide species supported by NHCs. Structurally related dimers of magnesium, [(sIPr)Mg(OEt)Brl]2 (4) and [(sIPr)Mg(OEt)Me]2 (5), were also prepared. Compounds 1-5 were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, 1H, 13C, and 9Be NMR spectroscopy where applicable.
Cover Picture: New Structural Features in Heavy Alkaline Earth-Metal Chemistry — Molecular Heterobimetallic Group 1, Ba Complexes (Chem. Eur. J. 7/2007)