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The chemistry of the group 2 metals (beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium) is dominated by the +2 oxidation state. Here, we report the reductions of two magnesium (II) iodide complexes with potassium metal in toluene, leading to thermally stable magnesium (I) compounds, (L) MgMg (L) (where L is (Ar) NC (NPr i 2) N (Ar) – or (Ar) NC (Me) 2 CH –, Ar is 2, 6-diisopropylphenyl, Me is methyl, and Pr i is isopropyl) in moderate yields. The results of x-ray crystallographic and theoretical studies are consistent with central Mg 2+ 2 units that have single, covalent magnesium-magnesium bonding interactions with 2. 8508 ± 0. 0012 (standard deviation) and 2. 8457 ± 0. 0008 angstrom bond lengths, respectively, and predominantly ionic interactions with the anionic ligands (L).
Green et al. (Fri,) studied this question.