CHEMICAL REACTIVITIES OF [ME(2)AL(MU-NPR2(I))(2)MGME](4) AND [ME(2)AL(MU-NET(2))MGME](2) - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES OF [ME(2)AL(MU-NPR2(I))(2)MG(MU-I)](2), [ME(2)AL(MU-OBU(T))(2)MG(MU-OBU(T))](2), ME(2)AL(MU-NPR2(I))(MU-OET)MG(MU-NPR2(I))(MU-OET)ALME(2) AND ME(2)AL(MU-OBU(T))(2)MG(MU-OBU(T))(2)ALME(2)

he nucleophilic attack of alcohols,. amines and iodine on the magnesium atoms of [Me(2)Al(mu-NPr2i)(2)MgMe](4) A and [Me(2)Al(mu-NEt(2))(2)MgMe](2) B has been investigated. Compound A undergoes metathesis with amines (Et(2)NH and (Pr2NH)-N-i) and iodine to give [Me(2)Al(mu-NPr2i)(2)Mg(mu-NR(2))](R = Et 7 or Pr-i 4) and [Me2Al(mu-NPr2i)(2)Mg(mu-I)](2) 5. respectively. Partial degradation of A with MeOH or ethanol gives Me(2)Al(mu-NPr2i)(mu-OMe)Mg(mu-NPr2i)(mu-OMe)AIMe(2) 1a and [Me(2)Al(mu-NPr2i)(mu-OEt)Mg(mu-NPr2i)(mu-OEt)AIMe(2) 1b, respectively, whereas partial degradation with Bu(t)OH gives Me(2)Al(mu-OBu(t))(2)Mg(mu-OBu(t))(2)AlMe(2) 2 and [Me(2)Al(mu-OBu(t))(2)Mg(mu-OBu(t))](2) 3. Compound B undergoes metathesis with Bu(t)OH also to give 2 and 3. The intermediate, Me(2)Al(mu-NR(2))(2)Mg (mu-Me)(mu-OBu(t))Mg(mu-NR(2))(2)AlMe(2) I in the reactions of A and B with Bu(t)OH is also examined. The molecular structures of compounds 1b, 2, 3 and 5 were determined by X-ray diffraction.