THE COORDINATION MODES OF SIMPLE DIARYLMAGNESIUM SPECIES - SOME REPRESENTATIVE X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES

The coordination modes of simple diarylmagnesium species have been investigated by crystal structure studies of representation compounds. In the case of diphenylmagnesium (1), both the solvated monomeric complex Ph2Mg·[THF]2 (1a) and the solvent-free compound [Ph2Mg]n (1b) were characterized. A polymeric structure was found for 1b, with tetrahedrally coordinated magnesium atoms interconnected by μ,η1-bridging phenyl groups to form linear chains. Bis(p-tolyl)magnesium (3) crystallized in a remarkable double structure that contained dimeric and monomeric units in a 1:2 ratio. In the dimer, two aryl groups are μ,η1-bridging. © 1990.