Mixing and matching N , N - and N , O -chelates in anionic Mg(I) compounds: synthesis and reactivity with RNCNR and CO.

Reduction of [Mg(NON)] 2 ([NON] 2- = [O(SiMe 2 NDipp) 2 ] 2- , Dipp = 2,6-iPr 2 C 6 H 3 ) affords Mg(I) species containing NON- and NNO-ligands ([NNO] 2- = [N(Dipp)SiMe 2 N(Dipp)SiMe 2 O] 2- ). The products of reactions with iPrNCNiPr and CO are consistent with the presence of reducing Mg(I) centres. Extraction with THF affords [K(THF) 2 ] 2 [(NNO)Mg-Mg(NNO)] with a structurally characterised Mg-Mg bond that was examined using density functional theory.