Formation of N , N , N ', N '-tetramethylethylenediamine via coupling of the two charge reversed C-N bonds of Me 3 NO in the presence of an Eu(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)amide complex.

An N , N , N ', N '-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) complex of Eu(II) was synthesized via an unprecedented self-aminomethylation of Me 3 NO in the presence of Eu[N(SiMe 3 ) 2 ] 2 (THF) 2 . The neutral TMEDA ligand is formed via the coupling of two charge reversed carbon centres from the same precursor Me 3 NO. In contrast, the reactions of Ln II [N(SiMe 3 ) 2 ] 2 (THF) 2 (Ln = Yb, Sm) with Me 3 NO led to the oxygen-bridged dinuclear complexes of Ln(III).