Sterically bulky amido magnesium methyl complexes: Syntheses, structures and catalysis

Abstract

A series of bulky secondary amines were treated with two equiv. Grignard reagent MeMgI at low temperature to yield the corresponding magnesium methyl complexes (1-4) in high yields. The prepared complexes have been comprehensively characterized. All four complexes exhibited very high reactivity as efficient pre-catalysts in the catalytic hydroboration of ketones with pinacolborane under mild conditions and at low catalyst loadings.