Structural and EPR characterisation of single electron and alkyl transfer products from reaction of dimethyl magnesium with bulky α-diimine ligands

Abstract

Treatment of dimethylmagnesium with bulky alpha-diimine ligands provides either the biradical methyl-bridged complexes [(alpha-diimine-.)Mg+(mu-CH3)]2 via single electron transfer (SET), or the product of methyl transfer to an imine carbon atom depending upon conditions.