Terminal titanium-ligand multiple bonds. Cleavages of C=O and C=S double bonds with Ti imido complexes.

Treatment of (t-)BuN=TiCl(2)Py(3) with 2 equiv lithium ketiminate compound, Li[OCMeCHCMeN(Ar)] (where Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), in toluene at room temperature gave (t-)BuN=Ti[OCMeCHCMeN(Ar)](2) (1) in high yield. The reaction of 1 with phenyl isocyanate at room-temperature resulted in imido ligand exchange producing PhN=Ti[OCMeCHCMeN(Ar)](2) (2). Compound 1 decomposed at 90 degrees C to form a terminal titanium oxo compound O=Ti[OCMeCHCMeN(Ar)](2) (3) and (t-)BuNHCMeCHCMeNAr (4).

Metal-induced coordination inversion and carbon-nitrogen bond rearrangement. Structurally characterized phenyl isocyanate inserted into aluminum methyl compounds and O- and N-bound aluminum compounds.

[C(4)H(3)N(CH(2)NMe(2))-2]AlMe(2) (1) is prepared in 88% yield by the reaction of substituted pyrrole [C(4)H(4)N(CH(2)NMe(2))-2] with 1 equiv of AlMe(3) in methylene chloride. Reaction of compound 1 with 1 equiv of phenyl isocyanate in toluene generates a seven-membered cycloaluminum compound [C(4)H(3)N[CH(2)NPh(CONMe(2))]-2] AlMe(2) (2). The phenyl isocyanate was inserted into the aluminum and dimethylamino nitrogen bond and induced an unusual rearrangement which results in C-N bond breaking and formation.