Transition metal complexes of a sterically demanding diimine ligand

The reaction of the metal halide with the sterically demanding ligand (i-Pr 2 C 6 H 3 N)(C(Me)(NC 6 H 3 -i-Pr 2 )) 2 afforded the complexes (i-Pr 2 C 6 H 3 N)(C(Me)(NC 6 H 3 -i-Pr 2 )) 2 MX 2 (X = Cl, M = Fe (2), Co (3); X = Br, M = Ni (4), M = Cu (5), Zn (6)). The species of 2 reacts with Li(OEt 2 )B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 to form the yellow adduct [(i-Pr 2 C 6 H 3 N)(C(Me)(NC 6 H 3 -i-Pr 2 )) 2 Fe(µ-Cl) 2 Li(OEt 2 ) 2 ][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] (7) while alkylation of 2 gave (i-Pr 2 C 6 H 3 N)(C(Me)(NC 6 H 3 -i-Pr 2 )) 2 FeClCH 2 SiMe 3 (8). The species [(i-Pr 2 C 6 H 3 N)(C(Me)(NC 6 H 3 -i-Pr 2 )) 2 Ni(η 3 -C 3 H 5 )][B(3,5-CF 3 C 6 H 3 ) 4 ] (9) was obtained from reaction of 1 with [(η 3 -C 3 H 5 )NiBr] 2 and [Na][B(3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 C 6 H 3 ) 4 ] while reaction of 4 with Super-Hydride afforded (i-Pr 2 C 6 H 3 N)(C(Me)(NC 6 H 3 -i-Pr 2 )) 2 NiH 2 BEt 2 (10). X-ray data are reported for 2–10. The sterically demanding nature of the ligand inhibits subsequent reactivity of these species.