Exploring the reactivity of an N-pyrazole, P-phosphine hybrid ligand with Cu(I), Ag(I) and Au(I) precursors

The reactivity of (3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyldiphenylphosphine (L) hybrid ligand against Cu(I), Ag(I) and Au(I) has been assayed and compounds [Cu(L)₂](PF₆) (1), [Ag(L)]₂(PF₆)₂·2C₂H₄Cl₂·2C₄H₁₀O (2) and [AuCl(L)]₂ (3) have been isolated and fully characterised. A fully characterisation by analytical and spectroscopic methods of 1-3 are presented and X-ray crystal structures of 1 and 2 are also reported. The similar data obtained between 2 and 3 permits to do a serious purpose of the structure of 3 in solid and solution.     

Cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) coordination compounds derived from aromatic amines

The structural and spectroscopic characterization of coordination compounds of four aromatic amines derived from benzimidazole, 2-aminobenzimidazole (L1), 1-(S-methylcarbodithioate)-2-aminobenzimidazole (L2), 2-(2-aminophenyl)-1H-benzimidazole (L3) and 6,6-dimethyl-5H-benzimidazolyl[1,2-c]quinazoline (L4) are reported. Cobalt(II) [Co(L1)₂(CH₃COO)₂] (1) and nickel(II) [Ni(L1)₂(CH₃COO)₂] (2) acetate coordination compounds of L1 are discussed. The synthesis and the X-ray crystal structure of the new 1-(S-methylcarbodithioate)-2-aminobenzimidazole (L2) is informed, together with its cobalt(II) [Co(L2)₂Cl₂] (3), [Co(L2)₂Br₂] (4) and zinc(II) [Co(L2)₂Cl₂] (5), [Zn(L2)₂Br₂] (6) coordination compounds. In these compounds the imidazolic nitrogen is coordinated to the metal center, while the ArNH₂ and the S-methylcarbodithioate groups do not participate as coordination sites. A co-crystal of L1 and L2 is analyzed. Structural analyses of the coordination compounds of L3 showed that this ligand behaves as a bidentate ligand through the aniline and the imidazole groups forming six membered rings in the cobalt(II) [Co(L3)Cl₂] (7) and zinc(II) [Zn(L3)Cl₂] (8) compounds, as well as the nickel(II) nitrate [Ni(L3)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ (9). The quinazoline L4 was produced by insertion of one acetone molecule and water elimination in L3, its X-ray crystal diffraction analysis, as well as that of its zinc(II) coordination compound [Zn(L4)₂Cl₂] (10), are discussed.     

Role of inorganic and organic anions in the formation of metallosupramolecular assemblies of silver(I) coordination polymers with the twisted ligand bis(4-pyridylthio)methane

Reaction of the twisted pyridyl dithioether ligand bis(4-pyridylthio)methane (4bpytm) with silver(I) salts afforded four complexes with 1:1 stoichiometries, namely [Ag(4bpytm)](NO₃) (1), [Ag(4bpytm)](ClO₄) (2) and [Ag(4bpytm)](ClO₄) ½CH₂Cl₂ ½dmf (2·Solv), [Ag(CH₃COO)(4bpytm)]·H₂O (3) and [Ag(CF₃COO)(4bpytm)] (4). X-ray structural analysis of these complexes showed that one-dimensional structures are obtained for 1, 2·Solv and 4 whereas a two-dimensional network is formed in 3. The ligand 4bpytm acts as an N,N′-bis(monodentate) bridging system in all cases except in 3, where an unprecedented coordination mode is obtained with the ligand acting in a tridentate manner using its two pyridine nitrogen atoms and a sulfur atom. The coordination polymers are assembled through secondary contacts: Ag···Ag in 4, Ag···S in 1, 2·Solv and 4, Ag···O in 2·Solv, and hydrogen bonding interactions between crystallization water that join the polymeric layers in 3. All of these weak interactions link the low-dimensional complexes to give high-dimensional supramolecular structures and further stabilize the crystal structures in the solid state.     

1D coordination polymers of silver(I) and copper(II) based on bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands: Synthesis and structural studies

The alkyl chain-linked diimidazolium (or dibenzimidazolium) salts, 1,1′-diethyl-4,4′-tetramethylene-diimidazolium-diiodide (L¹H₂·I₂) and 1,1′-diethyl-3,3′-trimethylene-dibenzimidazolium-diiodide (L²H₂·I₂), and their silver(I) and copper(II) coordination polymers, [L¹AgI]_n (1) and [L²Cu₂I₄]_n (2), have been prepared and characterized. Complex 1 is a 1D helical polymer generated by bidentated carbene ligands (L¹) and Ag(I) atoms. The 1D polymer of 2 is formed by bidentated carbene ligands (L²) and coplanar quadrilateral Cu₂I₂ units. 3D supramolecular frameworks in the crystal packings of 1 and 2 are formed via intermolecular weak interactions, including C–H···π contacts, π–π interactions and C–H···I hydrogen bonds.     

Syntheses, structures and properties of silver(I) complexes with flexible 1,3,5-tris(pyridylmethoxyl)benzene ligands

Five new silver(I) complexes [Ag₂(L₂)₂](BF₄)₂·CH₃CN·CH₃OH (1), [Ag(L₂)(CF₃SO₃)] (2), [Ag(L₃)]ClO₄·CH₃OH (3), [Ag₂(L₃)₂](CF₃SO₃)₂·CH₃CN·CH₃OH·H₂O (4) and [Ag(L₃)]PF₆·2CH₃CN (5) [L₂=1,3,5-tris(2-pyridylmethoxyl)benzene, L₃=1,3,5-tris(3-pyridylmethoxyl)benzene] were synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. In complexes 1-5, ligands L₂ and L₃ show different conformations and act as three-connectors, while the Ag(I) atom serves as three-connecting node to result in the formation of 2D and 3D frameworks. Complexes 1 and 2 with different counteranions have similar 2D network structure with the same (4,8²) topology. Complex 3 has a 3D structure with (10,3)-a topology while complexes 4 and 5 have the same 2D (6,3) topological structure. The results showed that the structure of organic ligands and counteranions play subtle but important role in determining the structure of the complexes. In addition, the photoluminescence and anion-exchange properties of the complexes were investigated in the solid state at room temperature.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of novel zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes with pyridine-phosphine chalcogenide ligands

New pyridine-phosphine chalcogenide ligands, tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine sulfide 1a and tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine selenide 1b, react with zinc(II) and cadmium(II) chlorides in EtOH at room temperature to afford complexes of compositions 2ZnCl₂·2L (2, L = 1a) and 3CdCl₂·2L (3a,b, L = 1a,b) in high yields. The solid-state structure of complexes 2, 3 has been proved by X-ray analysis data. Complex 2 is a centrosymmetric dimer, where two atoms of zinc are bonded by two bridging pyridine-phosphine sulfide ligands through N atoms. Complexes 3a,b exist as polymeric chains with each bridging ligand acting as a chelate N,S- or N,Se-donor to one cadmium(II) center and as a pyridine N-donor to the next cadmium(II) center.     

cis-Palladium(II) complexes of derivatives of di-(2-pyridyl)methane: Study of the influence of the bridge group in the coordination mode

Palladium(II) complexes containing di-(2-pyridyl)-N-methylimine (1), di-(2-pyridyl)methanol (2) and di-(2-pyridyl)methyl-N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (4) ligands were synthesized and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR in solution, IR and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Crystal structures of cis-dichloro[di-(2-pyridyl)-N-methylimine]palladium(II) (5), cis-dichloro[di-(2-pyridyl)methanol]palladium(II) (6) and cis-dichloro[di-(2-pyridyl)methyl-N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate]palladium(II) (7) showed a bidentate coordination mode of the di-(2-pyridyl)methane derivatives 1, 2 and 4. In these complexes is observed the formation of a five-membered chelate ring with the iminic ligand 1 and six-membered chelate rings with the pyridinic ligands 2 and 4. In all complexes the palladium atom displays a distorted square planar geometry.     

Comparative structural study of the complexation behaviour of silver(I), cadmium(II), mercury(II), and palladium(II) with a 17-membered N3O2-donor macrocycle

A comparative investigation of the coordination behaviour of the 17-membered, N₃O₂-donor macrocycle, 1,12,15-triaza-3,4:9,10-dibenzo-5,8-dioxacycloheptadecane, L, with the soft metal ions Ag(I), Cd(II), Hg(II), and Pd(II) is reported. The X-ray structures of 12 complexes have been determined and a range of structural types, including both mononuclear and dinuclear species, shown to occur. In particular cases the effect of anion variation on the resulting structures has been investigated; L reacts with AgX (X = NO₃, ClO₄, PF₆, OTf and CN) to yield related 2:2 (metal:ligand) complexes of types [Ag₂L₂(NO₃)₂] (1), [Ag₂L₂](ClO₄)₂ · 2DMF (2), [Ag₂L₂](PF₆)₂ · 2DMF (3), [Ag₂L₂](OTf)₂ (4) and [Ag₂L₂(μ-CN)][Ag(CN)₂] · H₂O (5). In all five complexes the ether oxygens of each ring are unbound. In 1–4 the macrocycles are present in sandwich-like arrangements that shield the dinuclear silver centres, with each silver bonded to two nitrogen donors from one L and one nitrogen from a second L. A Ag···Ag contact is present between each metal centre such that both centres can be described as showing distorted tetrahedral geometries. In the case of 5 a rare single μ₂-κC:κC symmetrically bridging two-electron-donating cyano bridge links silver ions [Ag···Ag distance, 2.7437(10) Å]; the macrocyclic ligands are orientated away from the dinuclear metal centres. In contrast to the behaviour of silver, reaction of cadmium(II) perchlorate with L resulted in a mononuclear sandwich-like complex of type [CdL₂](ClO₄)₂ · CH₃CN (6). Again, the ether oxygens do not coordinate, with each L binding to the cadmium centre only via its three nitrogen donors in a facial arrangement such that a distorted octahedral coordination geometry is attained. Reaction of L with HgX₂ (X = ClO₄, SCN and I) yielded the monomeric species [HgL(ClO₄)₂] (7), [HgL(SCN)₂]·CH₃CN (8) and [Hg₂L₂](HgI₄)₂ · 2L (9), in which all five donors of L are bound to the respective mercury centres. However, reaction of L with Hg(NO₃)₂ in dichloromethane/methanol gave a mononuclear sandwich-like complex [HgL₂](NO₃)₂ · 2CH₃OH (10) without anion coordination. Reaction of K₂PdCl₄ and Pd(NO₃)₂ with L yielded the 1:1 complexes [PdLCl]Cl · H₂O (11) and [PdL(NO₃)]NO₃ · CH₃OH (12), respectively, in which the metal is bound to three nitrogen donors from L along with the corresponding chloride or nitrate anion. Each palladium adopts a distorted square-planar coordination geometry; once again the ether oxygens are not coordinated.     

Zinc(II) complexes derived from di-2-pyridyl ketone N-phenyl-3-semicarbazone: Crystal structures and spectral studies

Six zinc(II) complexes, Zn(HL)Br₂ (1), Zn(HL)Cl₂ (2), ZnL(OAc) (3), ZnLN₃ (4), ZnL₂ (5) and ZnL₂ · H₂O (6), have been synthesized and characterized by different physicochemical techniques. Complex 1 is five coordinated and has a distorted square pyramidal geometry. Complexes 5 and 6 are six coordinated and have distorted octahedral geometries. In complexes 1 and 2, the ligand moieties are coordinated in the neutral form (HL), and in the other complexes they are monoanionic (L⁻).     

Synthesis, characterization and spectroscopic studies of cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes containing meta-bis(2-pyridoxy)benzene

A series of mononuclear and binuclear cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes containing new terdentate meta-bis(2-pyridoxy)benzene ligands: 3,5-bis(2-pyridoxy)toluene (L₁H) and 3,5-bis(2-pyridoxy)-2-dodecylbenzene (L₂H): [Pt(L₁)Cl] (1), [Pt(L₂)Cl] (2), [Pt(L₁)(CH₃CN)](ClO₄) (3), {[Pt(L₁)]₂(μ-dppm)}(ClO₄)₂ (4), {[Pt(L₂)]₂(μ-dppm)}(ClO₄)₂ (5), {[Pt(L₁)]₂(μ-pyrazole)}(ClO₄) (6), {[Pt(L₂)]₂(μ-pyrazole)}(ClO₄) (7), {[Pt(L₁)]₂(μ-imidazole)}(ClO₄) (8) and {[Pt(L₂)]₂(μ-imidazole)}(ClO₄) (9), have been synthesized and characterized. These ligands are coordinated to platinum(II) in a “pincer”-like manner and the presence of pyridyl donors enhances the availability of the ligand π^∗ orbitals for electronic transition. Spectroscopic properties of these cyclometalated complexes were studied. While the non-coplanar nature of the ligands hinders ligand-ligand and metal-metal interactions in these cyclometalated complexes, the presence of long hydrocarbon side chain on ligand L₂H seems to alleviate such hindrance. Intermolecular π-π, and possibly Pt-Pt interactions were observed in complex 2 at high concentration.     

Synthesis and evaluation of bipendant-armed (oligo)thiophene crown ether derivatives as new chemical sensors

Three new (oligo)thiophene bipendant-armed ligands 2a-c, derived from 2-(aminomethyl)-15-crown-5, have been synthesized and characterized. Compounds 2a-c were prepared by reductive amination of the corresponding macrocycle with formyl thiophene derivatives 1a-c in the presence of NaBH(OAc)₃ in fair to good yields. The photophysical properties of ligands 2a-c were studied and they were also evaluated as chemosensors in the presence of Na(I), Ag(I), Pd(II) and Hg(II) cations in acetonitrile solution.     

A series of 2D lanthanide (III) coordination polymers constructed from 2-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylate

Reactions of 2-(pyridine-3-yl)-1H-4,5-imidazoledicarboxylic acid (H₃PyIDC) with a series of Ln(III) ions affords ten coordination polymers, namely, {[Ln(H₂PyIDC)(HPyIDC)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n [Ln=Nd (1), Sm (2), Eu (3) and Gd (4)], {[Ln(HPyIDC)(H₂O)₃]·(H₂PyIDC)·H₂O}_n [Ln=Gd (5), Tb (6), Dy (7), Ho (8) and Er (9)], and {[Y₂(HPyIDC)₂(H₂O)₅]·(bpy)·(NO₃)₂·3H₂O}_n (10) (bpy=4,4′-bipyridine). They exhibit three types of networks: complexes 1-4 are isomorphous coordination networks containing neutral 2D metal-organic layers, while complexes 5-9 are isomorphous, which consist of cationic metal-organic layers and anionic organic layers, and complex 10 is a 2D network built up from 4-connected HPyIDC²⁻ anion and 4-connected Y(III) ions. In addition, thermogravimetric analyses and solid-state luminescent properties of the selected complexes are investigated. They exhibit intense, characteristic emissions in the visible region at room temperature.     

Synthesis,structural analysis,and thermal and spectroscopic studies of methylmalonate-containing zinc(II) complexes

The synthesis, crystal structure, thermal analysis and spectroscopic studies of five zinc(II) complexes of formulae [Zn(Memal)(H₂O)]_n (1) and [Zn₂(L)(Memal)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (2-5) [H₂Memal = methylmalonic acid, and L = 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy) (2), 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) (3), 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpa) (4) and 4,4′-azobispyridine (azpy) (5)] are presented here. The crystal structure of 1 is a three-dimensional arrangement of zinc(II) cations interconnected by methylmalonate groups adopting the μ₃-κ²O:κO’:κO”:κO”’ coordination mode to afford a rare (10,3)-d utp-network. The structures of the compounds 2-5 are also three-dimensional and they consist of corrugated square layers of methylmalonate-bridged zinc(II) ions which are pillared by bis-monodentate 4,4′-bpy (2), bpe (3), bpa (4) and azpy (5) ligands. The Memal ligand in 2-5 adopts the μ₃-κO:κO′:κO′′:κO′′′ coordination mode. Each zinc(II) ion in 1-5 is six-coordinated with five (1)/four (2-5) methylmalonate-oxygen atoms, a water molecule (1-5) and a nitrogen atom from a L ligand (2-5) building distorted octahedral environments. The rod-like L co-ligands in 2-5 appear as useful tools to control the interlayer metal-metal separation, which covers the range 8.4311(5) Å (2) – 9.644(3) Å (5). The influence of the co-ligand on the fluorescence properties of this series of compounds has been analyzed and discussed by steady-state and time resolved spectroscopy on all five compounds in the solid state.     

Syntheses and structures of Ag(I) complexes containing 1,4-bis(4,5-dihydro-2-oxazolyl)benzene

The reactions of the polydentate ligand 1,4-bis(4,5-dihydro-2-oxazolyl)benzene (L) with AgX (X = CH₃COO⁻, ClO₄⁻ and CF₃SO₃⁻) afforded the complexes [Ag₂(L)(CH₃COO)₂]_∞ (1), [Ag₂(L)₃(ClO₄)₂]_∞ (2), and [Ag(L)(CF₃SO₃)]_∞ (3), whereas the reaction of L with Ag₂SO₄ in MeOH/H₂O system afforded {[Ag₂(L)₃(H₂O)₃][SO₄] · 9H₂O}_∞ (4). The EA and IR have been recorded and all the complexes have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, confirming that complexes 1–4 are two-dimensional coordination polymeric frameworks. The bidentate L ligands in complexes 3 and 4 adopt both the syn and anti conformation and those in 1 and 2 adopt the anti conformation only. The anions CH₃CO₂⁻ in complex 1 bridge the Ag(I) atoms in η¹, η², μ₃-coordination mode forming a 1-D zig-zag –[Ag(CH₃COO)]_n– chains, while the anions ClO₄⁻, CF₃SO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ in complexes 2–4 are not coordinated to the Ag(I) atoms, but all of them play an important roles in linking cationic 2-D frameworks into 3-D supramolecular structures.     

Copper(I) and silver(I) complexes of 1,5-methylene- and diethylmethylene-bridged bis(oxazoline) ligands. In situ Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of methylene bridge

Silver(I) and copper(I) complexes of C₂-symmetric bis(oxazoline) ligands were studied by UV, NMR, IR, EPR and ES-MS spectroscopies. The stability constants of the Ag-1a and Ag-1b complexes with 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometries in acetonitrile were determined by NMR spectrometric titrations. The evidence of tetrahedral coordination for complex (Ag(1a)₂(⁺ was obtained from the complexation induced shifts (CIS) and NOEs. Mass spectra revealed the Cu(II) mediated oxidation of methylene bridge in copper complexes of 1a and 1b, which was in accordance with the UV, NMR, IR and EPR findings. The efficiency of Cu(I) complexes of methylene-bridged 1,5-bis(oxazoline)s 1 as chiral catalysts in stereoselective cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate, was compared to that of the dialkylmethylene-bridged 1,5-bis(oxazoline)s 2.     

Bis(3-pyridyl)methylvinylsilane (L1) and 1,2-di(3-quinolyl) dimethyl disilane (L2): Synthesis and complexation reactions. Anion controlled solid state structures of cationic Ag(I)-L1 complex

3-Bromopyridine and 3-bromoquinoline on reaction with n-butyllithium give lithiated products which on reaction with dichloromethylvinylsilane and 1,2-dichlorodimethyldisilane at −78 °C result in the ligands bis(3-pyridyl)methylvinylsilane (L1) and 1,2-di(3-quinolyl)dimethyl disilane (L2). The complexation reactions of both these ligands with Ag(I), Pd(II) and Cu(II) have been explored. The ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ²⁹Si{¹H}NMR and IR spectra of both the ligands and their metal complexes have been found characteristic. The complex of L1 with silver(I), [Ag(L1)]ClO₄ (1) gives suitable single crystals characterized by X-ray diffraction. Its structure consists of two dimensional sheets, having 25-membered metallamacrocycle ring, in which Ag has distorted tetrahedral geometry and is bonded to vinyl (η²) group. On reacting AgCF₃SO₃ with L1 and subjecting the single crystals of the resulting complex to X-ray diffraction it has been found that contrary to 1 there is no bond between vinyl group and silver, resulting in infinite molecular strands, in which coordination geometry of silver is distorted trigonal planar. anion acts as a bridge between two molecular strands through F?H (aromatic) and Ag?O secondary interactions. The Ag-C distances in 1 are 2.309(5) and 2.350(12) Å. The CC bond length does not exhibit significant change on bonding with silver in 1.     

Vinyl-addition polymerization of norbornene catalyzed by (pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine divalent iron, cobalt and nickel complexes

Complexes of 2-((3,5-dimethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L1), 2-((3,5-ditert-butyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)pyridine (L2), 2-((3,5-diphenyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)pyridine (L3), 2-((3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L4) and 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)pyridine (L5) with cobalt(II), iron(II) and nickel(II), Ni(L1)Cl₂ (1), Co(L1)Cl₂ (2), Fe(L1)Cl₂ (3), Ni(L2)Cl₂ (4), Ni(L3)Cl₂ (5), Co(L3)Cl₂ (6), Fe(L3)Cl₂ (7), Ni(L4)Cl₂ (8) and Ni(L5)Cl₂ (9), were used as catalyst precursors to produce vinyl-addition type norbornene polymers. Both the identity of the metal center and nature of ligand affected the polymerization behaviour of the resultant catalysts. Nickel catalysts were generally more active than the corresponding iron and cobalt analogues. The polynorbornene produced have high molecular weights (0.5-2.1 × 10⁶ g/mol) and narrow molecular weight distributions. Analyses of polymer microstructure using NMR and IR spectroscopy confirmed the polymers produced to be vinyl-addition polynorbornene.     

Novel 3d-metal complexes with 1,2-diamino-3-(2-benzothiazolyl)-4(5H)-ketopyrrole: Synthesis,spectroscopic and structural investigations

A series of new 3d-metal complexes have been prepared by the reaction of M(CH₃COO)₂ (M = Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II)) and 1,2-diamino-3-(2-benzothiazolyl)-4(5H)-ketopyrrole (HL) in a methanol (3) or a methanol/dmf (1, 2) medium. All the complexes have been studied by elemental analyses, electronic and IR spectroscopies. The zinc(II) complex 1 and the ligand HL have been investigated using the method of ¹H NMR-spectroscopy at various temperatures. The disappearance of the signal from one proton of the amino group H(5) in the spectrum of complex 1 confirmed the existence of the ligand in the deprotonated form. According to the data of the ¹H NMR-spectroscopy, the ligand HL is coordinated to zinc(II) through the nitrogen atom of the deprotonated amino group and the nitrogen atom of the benzothiazole substituent. These data are in agreement with X-ray structural studies for the ligand HL and the zinc(II) complex 1.     

A contribution to 1-azapentadienylmetal chemistry: Si, Sn(II), Fe(II) and Co(II) complexes

Complexes of three related 1-azapentadienyl ligands [N(SiMe₂R¹)C(Bu^t)(CH)₃SiMe₂R]⁻, abbreviated as L (R = Bu^t, R¹ = Me), L′ (R = Me = R¹), and L″ (R = Bu^t = R¹), are described. The crystalline compounds Sn(L)₂ (1), Sn(L′)₂ (2), [Sn(L′)(μ-Cl)]₂ (3) and [Sn(L″)(μ-Cl)]₂ (4) were prepared from SnCl₂ and 2 K(L), 2 K(L′), K(L′) and K(L″), respectively, in thf. Treatment of the appropriate lithium 1-azapentadienyl with Si(Cl)Me₃ yielded the yellow crystalline Me₃Si(L) (5) and the volatile liquid Me₃Si(L′) (6) and Me₃Si(L″) (7), each being an N,N,C-trisilyldieneamine. The red, crystalline Fe(L)₂ (8) and Co(L′)₂ (9) were obtained from thf solutions of FeCl₂ with 2 Li(L)(tmeda) and CoCl₂ with 2 K(L′), respectively. Each of 1-9 gave satisfactory C, H, N analyses; 6 and 7 (GC-MS) and 1, 2, 8 and 9 (MS) showed molecular cations and appropriate fragments (also 3 and 4). The ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR (1-4) and IR spectra support the assignment of 1-4 as containing Sn-N(SiMe₂R¹)-C(Bu^t)(CH)₃SiMe₂R moieties and 5-7 as N(SiMe₃)(SiMe₂R¹)C(Bu^t)(CH)₃SiMe₂R molecules; for 1-4 this is confirmed by their X-ray structures. The magnetic moments for 8 (5.56 μ_B) and 9 (2.75 μ_B) are remarkably close to the appropriate Fe and Co complex [M{η³-N(SiMe₃)C(Bu^t)C(H)SiMe₃}₂]; hence it is proposed that 8 and 9 have similar metal-centred, centrosymmetric, distorted octahedral structures.