Taking Advantage of Hg−C Bonds: Synthesis of the First Homoleptic Bis-β-diketiminate Complex Bound through the γ-Carbons

The most common β-diketiminate ligand, [{N(2,6- i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 )C(Me)} 2 CH] − (BDI), was used to synthesize a new mercury complex in which two BDI ligands are bound to the metal through the γ-carbons in the solid state. In solution, one of the BDI ligands switches to an N,N′-binding mode; this complex is in equilibrium with the homoleptic species. The thermodynamic parameters, Δ H ° (−2.52 kcal mol −1 ), Δ S ° (−9.24 cal mol −1 K −1 ), and Δ G ° 298 (0.23 kcal mol −1 ), were measured using variable-temperature 1 H NMR spectroscopy.