The role of neutral and radical anionic organozinc complexes in the alkylation reactions of 1,4-diaza-1,3-butadienes with diorganozinc compounds

Abstract

We have earlier postulated the intermediacy of organozinc radical species in the regioselective alkylation reactions of 1,4-di-tert-butyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene (t-BuNCHCHN-t-Bu) with diorganozinc compounds (ZnR2). To verify these postulates, we have prepared and studied the neutral organozinc radical complex MeO(CH2)3Zn(t-BuNCHCHN-t-Bu) (A) and two diorganozinc radical-anionic complexes, K[R2Zn(t-BuNCHCHN-t-Bu)] (R = Me (8a), Et (8b)). A was prepared in situ by the reaction of t-BuNCHCHN-t-Bu with bis(methoxypropyl)zinc. Complexes 8 were prepared by reducing the 1:1 coordination complex ZnMe2(t-BuNCHCHN-t-Bu) (1a) with potassium or by the nucleophilic addition of K(t-BuNCHCHN-t-Bu) to ZnR2 (R = Me, Et). The resulting radical-anionic complexes are thermally unstable and readily undergo an intermolecular single-electron transfer, giving a mixture of the metallacyclic heteroleptic zincate complexes K[ZnR(t-BuNCHCHN-t-Bu)] (9) and K[ZnR(t-BuNC(R)CHN-t-Bu)] (10). The ratio in which the latter complexes are formed depends on the R group and on the concentration and the temperature. Alternatively, 9 has been prepared separately from the reduction of [ZnR(t-BuNCHCHN-t-Bu)]2 (4) with 2 equiv of potassium. The crystal structures of two complexes of 9, i.e. {9a(THF)}n and {9c(Et2O)1/2}n, have been determined. Both complexes form linear coordination polymers containing alternating potassium cations and zinc-diazabutadiene anions.