Preparation, crystal structure, and reactivity of bis {tris(trimethylsilyl) methyl} magnesium

Heating of the lithium magnesate Li(THF)₂(μ-Br)₂Mg(Tsi)(THF)] (Tsi = (Me₃Si)₃C) under vacuum gives the dialkylmagnesium compound Mg(Tsi)₂, the first two-coordinate magnesium derivative to have been structurally characterized in the solid state. The compound is remarkably thermally stable, not decomposing (or melting) when heated to 350°C. It has a very low reactivity, failing to react in toluene with, for example, CO₂, Me₃SiCl, Me₂SiHCl, MeI, BCl₃ or CH₃COCl, and even with neat CH₃COCl at its boiling point. It does react, though fairly slowly, with I₂ in toluene to give TsiI, and more rapidly with Br₂ to give TsiBr, and with an excess of PhSO₂Cl in toluene at 1OO°C to give TsiCl. It decomposes quickly in the air, and reacts readily with MeOH in toluene to give TsiH without formation of detectable amounts of the intermediate TsiMgOMe, and with O₂ in toluene.