Metallacyclopentadienes have attracted much attention as building blocks for synthetic chemistry as well as key intermediates in many metal-mediated or metal-catalyzed reactions. However, metallacyclopentadienes of the alkaline-earth metals have not been reported, to say nothing of their structures, reaction chemistry, and synthetic applications. In this work, the first series of magnesiacyclopentadienes, spiro-dilithio magnesiacyclopentadienes, and dimagnesiabutadiene were synthesized from 1,4-dilithio 1,3-butadienes. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of these magnesiacycles revealed unique structural characteristics and bonding modes. Their reaction chemistry and synthetic application were preliminarily studied and efficient access to amino cyclopentadienes was established through their reaction with thioformamides. Experimental and DFT calculations demonstrated that these magnesiacyclopentadienes could be regarded as bis(Grignard) reagents wherein the two Mg-C(sp(2)) bonds have a synergetic effect when reacting with substrates.
Keywords: Grignard reagents; alkaline earth metals; lithium; magnesium; structure elucidation.
© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.