Dimerization and ring-opening in bis(diisopropylamino)cyclopropenylidene (BAC) mediated by [U(NR2)3(CCPh)] (R = SiMe3)

Abstract

Addition of 2 equiv. of bis(diisopropylamino)cyclopropenylidene (BAC) to [U(NR₂)₃(CCPh)] (1, R = SiMe₃), in Et₂O, results in formation of [cyclo-N(ⁱPr)C(Me)₂CH(NⁱPr₂)C{CHC₃(NⁱPr₂)₂}][U(NR₂)₂(N(SiMe₃)SiMe₂CH₂)(CCPh)] (2) in moderate isolated yield. Complex 2 is the result of coupling and protonation of two BAC molecules, where complex 1 contributes the required proton. It was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography and represents a new mode of reactivity of the cyclopropenylidene fragment.