C-N and C-H Activation of an N-Heterocyclic Carbene by Magnesium(II) Hydride and Magnesium(I) Complexes.

Reactions of the hindered N-heterocyclic carbene, :C{(MesNCH)2} (IMes; Mes = mesityl), with a series of β-diketiminatomagnesium(II) hydride and dimagnesium(I) complexes were carried out at 80 °C. The reactions involving the magnesium hydrides, [{(ArNacnac)Mg(μ-H)}2] [ArNacnac = [(ArNCMe)2CH]-, where Ar = 2,6-diethylphenyl (Dep) or 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (Dip)], proceeded via activation of an exocyclic C-N bond of IMes, giving magnesium imidazolyl compounds [(ArNacnac)Mg(μ-H)(μ-Imid)Mg(ArNacnac)] (Imid = [NC2H2N(Mes)C]-) and mesitylene. A low-yield IMes methyl C-H activation product, [(DepNacnac)Mg(IMes-H)], was also obtained, via H2 elimination, from the reaction between IMes and [{(DepNacnac)Mg(μ-H)}2]. Reactions between IMes and dimagnesium(I) compounds [{(ArNacnac)Mg}2] [Ar = 2,6-dimethylphenyl (Xyl) or Mes] afforded isostructural C-H activation products [(ArNacnac)Mg(IMes-H)] but in higher yields. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the reactions do not progress via stable adduct complex intermediates, which are sterically inaccessible.