Hydrocarbon Soluble Alkali-Metal-Aluminium Hydride Surrog[ATES]

A series of group 1 hydrocarbon-soluble donor free aluminates [AM(t BuDHP)(TMP)Al(i Bu)2 ] (AM=Li, Na, K, Rb) have been synthesised by combining an alkali metal dihydropyridyl unit [(2-t BuC5 H5 N)AM)] containing a surrogate hydride (sp3 C-H) with [(i Bu)2 Al(TMP)]. These aluminates have been characterised by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. While the lithium aluminate forms a monomer, the heavier alkali metal aluminates exist as polymeric chains propagated by non-covalent interactions between the alkali metal cations and the alkyldihydropyridyl units. Solvates [(THF)Li(t BuDHP)(TMP)Al(i Bu)2 ] and [(TMEDA)Na(t BuDHP)(TMP)Al(i Bu)2 ] have also been crystallographically characterised. Theoretical calculations show how the dispersion forces tend to increase on moving from Li to Rb, as opposed to the electrostatic forces of stabilization, which are orders of magnitude more significant. Having unique structural features, these bimetallic compounds can be considered as starting points for exploring unique reactivity trends as alkali-metal-aluminium hydride surrog[ATES].

Molecular Main Group Metal Hydrides

This review serves to document advances in the synthesis, versatile bonding, and reactivity of molecular main group metal hydrides within Groups 1, 2, and 12-16. Particular attention will be given to the emerging use of said hydrides in the rapidly expanding field of Main Group element-mediated catalysis. While this review is comprehensive in nature, focus will be given to research appearing in the open literature since 2001.

Synthesis and Structural Characterisation of Lithium, Zinc, and Aluminium Pyrazolate Complexes

The reaction of nBuLi with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (Me2pzH) in Et2O or tmeda/hexane (tmeda=N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine) and with 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitropyrazolate (Me2pzHNO2) in THF results in the formation of three structurally diverse lithium pyrazolates: namely an Et2O-solvated tetrameric complex [Li4(Me2pz)4(OEt2)4], bridged entirely with μ-η2:η1-pyrazolate bonding, a hexanuclear complex [Li6(Me2pz)6(tmeda)2] with four different coordination modes (μ-η1:η1, μ-η2:η1, μ3-η1:η2:η1 and μ3-η2:η2:η1), and a new polymeric compound [Li2(Me2pzNO2)2(thf)2]n, with [Li2(Me2pzNO2)2(thf)2] groups linked by –NO2 coordination. A mononuclear zinc complex [Zn(tBu2pz)2(tBu2pzH)2].1/2THF (tBu2pzH=3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole) was prepared by reaction of tBu2pzH with ZnEt2, unidentate tBu2pz groups being stabilised by N–H⋯N hydrogen bonding. Treatment of 3,5-diphenylpyrazole (Ph2pzH) with trimethylaluminium (mole ratio 3:1) in THF led to the formation of dinuclear [AlMe2(μ-Ph2pz)]2.1/2THF.

Combined KH/alkaline-earth metal amide catalysts for hydrogenation of alkenes

Breaking saline KH: The combined KH/alkaline-earth metal amide catalysts display much better catalytic activity than their components in the hydrogenation of alkenes, suggesting the degradation and activation of saline KH with the metal amides.

Ring-Shaped Phosphinoamido-Magnesium-Hydride Complexes: Syntheses, Structures, Reactivity, and Catalysis

A series of magnesium(II) complexes bearing the sterically demanding phosphinoamide ligand, L(-) =Ph2 PNDip(-) , Dip=2,6-diisopropylphenyl, including heteroleptic magnesium alkyl and hydride complexes are described. The ligand geometry enforces various novel ring and cluster geometries for the heteroleptic compounds. We have studied the stoichiometric reactivity of [(LMgH)4 ] towards unsaturated substrates, and investigated catalytic hydroborations and hydrosilylations of ketones and pyridines. We found that hydroborations of two ketones with pinacolborane using various Mg precatalysts is very rapid at room temperature with very low catalyst loadings, and ketone hydrosilylation using phenylsilane is rapid at 70 °C. Our studies point to an insertion/σ-bond metathesis catalytic cycle of an in situ formed "MgH2 " active species.

Accessible heavier s-block dihydropyridines: structural elucidation and reactivity of isolable molecular hydride sources

Transmetallation of lithiodihydropyridines with Group 1 alkoxides provides facile access to reactive MH (M = Na, K) sources, which show significant structural diversity due in part to the distinct ways that Na/K engage with the σ (green) and π (red) donor systems of the DHP ligands.