Diboron complexes of binucleating bis(amidinate) ligands

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of the following bis(amidinate)-substituted boron halides are reported: 1,3-C 6 H 4 [C{N(SiMe 3 )} 2 BCl 2 ] 2 (3), 1,4-C 6 H 4 [C{N(SiMe 3 )} 2 BCl 2 ] 2 (4), 1,4-C 6 H 4 [C{N(SiMe 3 )} 2 B(Ph)Cl] 2 (5), 1,4-C 6 H 4 [C{NCy} 2 BCl 2 ] 2 (6), and 1,4-C 6 H 4 [C{NCy} 2 B(Ph)Cl] 2 (7). Compounds 3-5 were prepared by trimethylsilyl chloride elimination, while 6 and 7 were prepared via salt metathesis reactions of the appropriate dilithium bis(amidinates) with BCl 3 or PhBCl 2 . The molecular structures of complexes 3, 5, and 6 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, along with that of the free bis(amidine) 1a. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.