Structural Characterization of BIAN Type Molecules Used in Viscosity Reduction of Alkyl Magnesium Solutions.

,-diphenylacenaphthylene-1,2-diimines (BIANs) have been used to reduce the undesired high viscosity of alkyl magnesium solutions, which are known to form polymeric structures. In order to understand the mechanisms, analyses of the BIAN alkyl magnesium solutions have been carried out under inert conditions with SEC-MS, NMR, and FTIR and were compared to the structures obtained from HPLC-MS, FTIR, and NMR after aqueous workup. While viscosity reduction was shown for all BIAN derivatives used, only the bis (diisopropyl)-substituted BIAN could be clearly assigned to a single reaction product, which also could be reused without loss of efficiency or decomposition.