BIFUNCTIONAL CARRIERS OF POLAR ORGANOMETALLICS USING TRANSITION-METAL-SCHIFF BASE COMPLEXES - A VERY EASY ACCESS TO MANGANESE(II)-CARBON FUNCTIONALITIES

This report details a conceptual approach to the use of bifunctional c omplexes for carrying ion pair reagents, such as lithium alkyls or oth ers. This study led to the first crystallographic characterization of organometallic [Mn(Schiff base)RLi(DME)] compounds (R = CH3, 2; R = Ph , 3; R = Mes (=2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2)), 3). The importance of these compl exes lies in, the electronic and steric modification, of lithium alkyl chemistry. Preliminary studies with PhCHO and PhCN show how complexes 2-4 react in a bifunctional fashion with organic substrates.