Synthesis and reactions of β-diketiminate-supported complexes with Mg–Fe or Yb–Fe bonds

Abstract

Reaction of [M(NacNac)I(THF)]_n (M = Mg, Ca or Yb; n = 1 or 2) with KFp gave Mg(NacNac)Fp(THF) (9, Mg–Fe = 2.6326(4) Å) or [M(NacNac)(μ-Fp)(THF)]₂ (M = Ca or Yb (10), no M–Fe bonds); reaction of 10 with [YbFp₂(THF)₃]₂ gave [{Yb(NacNac)(THF)}₂(μ-YbFp₄)] (Yb–Fe = 2.9758(5)–3.1702(5) Å) containing the first example of a lanthanide bound solely to four transition metals; reaction of 9 with TolNCNTol gave Mg(NacNac){(NTol)₂CFp} via the first net insertion of an unsaturated substrate into an alkaline earth-transition metal bond (NacNac = HC{C(Me)N(2,6-C₆H₃ⁱPr₂)}₂; Fp = CpFe(CO)₂; Tol = 4-C₆H₄Me).