Chemistry supported by preorganized binucleating ligands:: Synthesis and structural characterization of dititanium(III) μ-methyl μ-hydrido species

Binucleating bis(amidinate) ligands based on a 9,9-dimethylxanthene backbone have been used to prepare new dititanium(I-V) complexes of the general formula [bis(amidinate)]Ti2Cp2R4 (R = CH3, (CH3)-C-13, CD3). Reaction of these methyl derivatives with H-2 affords the dititanium(III) mu-methyl mu-hydrido derivatives [bis(amidinate)]Ti2Cp2(mu-R)(mu-H) (R = CH3, (CH3)-C-13, CD3), which have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and NMR and IR spectroscopy. These complexes are rare examples of first-row-transition-metal alkyl hydrido species.