Potassium complexes containing bidentate pyrrole ligands: synthesis, structures, and catalytic activity for the cyclotrimerization of isocyanates.

Bidentate pyrrolyl ligands, 2-(t-butyliminomethyl)pyrrole and 2-(t-butylaminomethyl)pyrrole, reacted with KH to give complexes [C4H3N(2-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]NtBu)K(THF)]n (1) and [C4H3N(2-CH2NHtBu)K]n (2), respectively. Each has been characterized by C, H and N microanalysis, NMR spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray structural analysis. The X-ray structure of complex 1 (n≥ 1) demonstrated that it exists as a 1D zig-zag coordination polymer in the solid state. Conversely, the structure of complex 2 (n≥ 1) showed that it is a 2D supramolecular network. They proved to be an effective class of catalysts for cyclotrimerization of isocyanate in excellent yield under mild conditions.