Alkali metal cation-pi interactions stabilized solely by [M{N(SiMe3)(2)}(3)](-) anions (M = Mg or Zn): The competing influence of alkali metal center dot center dot center dot C(Me) agostic interactions

作者：Forbes GC^*; Kennedy AR; Mulvey RE; Roberts BA; Rowlings RB

来源：Organometallics, 2002, 21(23): 5115-5121.

DOI：10.1021/om020596u

A series of [K(ar)(2)](+) and [Rb(toluene)(3)](+) cations (ar = benzene, toluene, o-xylene, or p-xylene) has been synthesized and crystallized in the presence of [M{N(SiMe3)(2)}(3)](-) anions (M = Mg or Zn). In the solid state all form either extended supermolecular, dimeric or supramolecular, polymeric structures. Only [K(toluene)(2)][Mg{N(SiMe3)(2)}(3)] was found to exist as both suprastructural isomers. Introducing cyclopentadienyl to the system gave a similar zincate with the unusual [K2CP](+) cation. The absence of any traditional Lewis bases facilitates' short metal-to-arene contact distances and makes these species excellent candidates for the study of alkali metal cation-pi interactions. It is shown that K-pi interactions and to a lesser extent Rb-pi interactions are heavily influenced by the number and nature of agostic methyl interactions, especially when the electron-donating ability of these is maximized by adoption of near-linear geometries. These features combine so that the weakest potassium-to-arene interaction observed is that with benzene.

• 出版日期2002-11-11