Synergic transformation of an ethylenediamine to a lithium 1,3-diaza-2-zincacyclopentene via an alkyllithium/bis(alkyl)zinc mixture

Abstract

Deadly duo: Four bonds in total, two N-H and two C-H bonds, have been cleaved from a neutral secondary diamine through the cooperative effects of a lithium alkyl-zinc bisalkyl coalition aided by N,N,N',N'- tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) to generate a dianionic diazaethene (see scheme). © 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.