Abstract: | The protection of the hydroxy group of 1‐hydroxy‐2.2.4.5.5‐pentamethyl‐3‐imidazoline by a t‐butyldimethylsilyl group gives the silane 1 which allows via the 4‐lithium salt the preparation of 4‐substituted derivatives, i. e. a dithiocarboxylic acid ( 2 ), a disulfide ( 3 ), a phosphane ( 4 ) and a thioether ( 5 ). Oxidation of 4‐lithiated 1 yields under C–C coupling an ethylene bridged bis(3‐imidazoline) ( 6 ). From these compounds Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes M( 4 )2Cl2 (M = Pd, Pt and Pd( 5 )Cl2 were prepared and the structure of the dithiocarboxylate chelate complex Pd( 2 ‐H+)2 ( 7 ) was determined by X‐ray diffraction. Cleavage of the silyl group from 7 gives complex 8 which can be oxidized to the corresponding diradical ( 9 ). Complex 9 was characterized by its EPR spectrum. Measurements of the magnetic susceptibility of 9 reveal strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two spins at low temperatures. |