Low valent magnesium compounds

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An example (doesn't reflect bond angle) Magnesium(I)-complex-example.png
An example (doesn't reflect bond angle)

A number of stable low valent magnesium compounds containing a metal-metal, Mg-Mg, bond, where magnesium exhibits the formal oxidation state of +1 are known. These compounds generally have the formula L2Mg2, where L represents a bulky ligand. [1] The first examples of these stable magnesium(I) compounds were reported in 2007. [2] The chemistry of Mg is dominated by the +2 oxidation state and prior to 2007 only examples of crystalline compounds with short Mg-Mg distances that may indicate an Mg-Mg bond were known, such as the ternary metal hydrides Mg2RuH4, Mg3RuH3, and Mg4IrH5 and magnesium diboride, [3] Calculations had also indicated the stability of the Mg22+ cation. [4]

The preparation of the first compounds made involved the reduction of MgII iodine complexes with potassium metal and the bulky ligands were: [2]

Both examples have the formula L2Mg2, where L represents the bulky anionic bidentate ligand. [2] X-ray crystallographic studies showed an Mg-Mg bond length of 285.1 pm and 284.6 pm. [2] Theoretical studies indicate an essentially ionic formulation Mg22+(L)2. [2] The Mg22+ ion is the group 2 analogue of the group 12 Hg22+ (present in e.g. mercury(I) chloride) and Cd22+ ions (present in cadmium(I) tetrachloroaluminate).

Since then a variety of stable Mg(I) compounds have been prepared, some melting over 200 °C, some colorless, others colored, but all involving very bulky ligands. [1] Also complexes of the LMgMgL with monodentate ligands have been prepared and in these the coordination of the Mg atom increases from three to four. [1] The magnesium(I) dimers have proved to be useful reducing agents, for example in the preparation of tin(I) compounds. [5]

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A magnesium(I) dimer is a molecular compound containing a magnesium to magnesium bond (Mg-Mg), giving the metal an apparent +1 oxidation state. Alkaline earth metals are commonly found in the +2-oxidation state, such as magnesium. The M2+ are considered as redox-inert, meaning that the +2 state is significant. However, recent advancements in main group chemistry have yielded low-valent magnesium (I) dimers, also given as Mg (I), with the first compound being reported in 2007. They can be generally represented as LMg-MgL, with L being a monoanionic ligand. For example, β-diketiminate, commonly referred to as Nacnac, is a useful chelate regarding these complexes. By tuning the ligand, the thermodynamics of the complex change. For instance, the ability to add substituents onto Nacnac can contribute to the steric bulk, which can affect reactivity and stability. As their discovery has grown, so has their usefulness. They are employed in organic and inorganic reduction reactions. It is soluble in a hydrocarbon solvent, like toluene, stoichiometric, selective, and safe.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Stasch, Andreas; Jones, Cameron (2011). "Stable dimeric magnesium(i) compounds: from chemical landmarks to versatile reagents". Dalton Transactions. 40 (21): 5659–5672. doi:10.1039/C0DT01831G. PMID   21390353.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Green, S. P.; Jones C.; Stasch A. (December 2007). "Stable Magnesium(I) Compounds with Mg-Mg Bonds". Science. 318 (5857): 1754–1757. Bibcode:2007Sci...318.1754G. doi: 10.1126/science.1150856 . PMID   17991827.
  3. King, R. Bruce (October 2002). "Chemical bonding topology of superconductors. 5. The similarities between magnesium diboride and cuprate superconductors and the role of subvalent magnesium". Polyhedron. 21 (23): 2347–2350. doi:10.1016/S0277-5387(02)01183-X.
  4. Hogreve, H. (August 2004). "Mg22+: a long-lived metastable dication". Chemical Physics Letters. 394 (1–3): 32–36. Bibcode:2004CPL...394...32H. doi:10.1016/j.cplett.2004.06.099.
  5. Choong, Sam L.; Schenk, Christian; Stasch, Andreas; Dange, Deepak; Jones, Cameron (2012). "Contrasting reductions of group 14 metal(ii) chloride complexes: synthesis of a [small beta]-diketiminato tin(i) dimer". Chemical Communications. 48 (19): 2504–2506. doi:10.1039/C2CC18086C. PMID   22281528.