Monomeric Magnesium and Calcium Complexes containing the Rigid, Dianionic 1, 2‐Bis[(2, 5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (dtb‐BIAN) and 1, 2‐Bis[(2‐biphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (bph‐BIAN) Ligands

The new rigid bidentate nitrogen ligands 1, 2‐bis[(2, 5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (1) (dtb‐BIAN) and 1, 2‐bis[(2‐biphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (2) (bph‐BIAN) have been synthesized by condensation of 1, 2‐acenaphthylenedione with 2, 5‐di‐tert‐butylaniline and 2‐aminobiphenyl, respectively. Reduction of 1 and 2 with magnesium and calcium results in the formation of the monomeric metal complexes [(dtb‐BIAN)Mg(THF)2] (3), [(bph‐BIAN)Mg(DME)2] (4), and [(bph‐BIAN)Ca(THF)3] (5). Compounds 1 — 5 have been characterized by C/H analyses, IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra, the structures of 2, 3, and 5 have been estimated by single crystal X‐ray diffraction.