SYNTHESIS AND X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF O-PHENYLENEDIAMIDOMAGNESIUM TETRAHYDROFURAN - THE FIRST OCTAHEDRAL MG-6 CLUSTER

Crystals of o-phenylenediamidomagnesium tetrahydrofuran prepared at th e interface of a sec-butyl-n-butyl magnesium in heptane-o-phenylenedia mine in THF bilayered solution, have been shown by an X-ray diffractio n study to consist of unprecedented, discrete octahedral Mg-6 clusters , held in place by six bridging, divalent, N-bonding ligands, and solv ated by THF molecules to give the Mg atoms a five-coordinate, square-b ased pyramidal geometry overall.