Highly selective trimerisation of MeNC by a novel titanium imido complex containing a tridentate dianionic ligand

A new type of imido compound [Ti(NBu t )L(py)] 1 containing a tripodal dianionic ligand is reported which effects the remarkably selective trimerisation of MeNC; the crystal structures of 1 and [TiL{N(Me)N(Bu t )(C 4 H 3 N 2 M e)}] 2 are described [L = MeC(2-C 5 H 4 N)(CH 2 NSiMe 3 ) 2 ].