1,8-Bis(silylamido)naphthalene complexes of magnesium and zinc synthesised through alkane elimination reactions.

The reactions between magnesium or zinc alkyls and 1,8-bis(triorganosilyl)diaminonaphthalenes afford the 1,8-bis(triorganosilyl)diamidonaphthalene complexes with elimination of alkanes. The reaction between 1,8-CH(NSiMePhH) and one or two equivalents of MgBu affords two complexes with differing coordination environments for the magnesium; the reaction between 1,8-CH(NSiMePhH) and MgBu in a 1 : 1 ratio affords 1,8-CH(NSiMePh){Mg(THF)} (1), which features a single magnesium centre bridging both ligand nitrogen donors, whilst treatment of 1,8-CH(NSiRH) (R = MePh, Pr) with two equivalents of MgBu affords the bimetallic complexes 1,8-CH(NSiR){BuMg(THF)} (R = MePh2, R = Pr3), which feature four-membered MgN rings. Similarly, 1,8-CH(NSiPr){MeMg(THF)} (4) and 1,8-CH(NSiMePh){ZnMe} (5) are formed through reactions with the proligands and two equivalents of MMe (M = Mg, Zn).