Manganese-mediated synthesis of an NHC core non-symmetric pincer ligand and evaluation of its coordination propertiesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Full experimental details and NMR spectra for all new compounds, X-ray diffraction data for complexes [4]BF4, 7, and 8. CCDC 1556215-1556217. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c7dt02190a

• Main Authors: Valyaev, Dmitry A, Willot, Jérémy, Mangin, Loïc P, Zargarian, Davit, Lugan, Noël
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/c7dt02190a

The alkylation of N -(2-pyridyl)imidazole by the Mn I methylene-phosphonium complex [Cp(CO) 2 Mn(η 2 - P , C -Ph 2 P&z.dbd;C(H)Ph)]BF 4 offers a straightforward route to a tridentate pro-ligand featuring an NHC core and phosphine/pyridine arms. The ability of this P N ligand to coordinate in a pincer mode was recognized in Rh I , Rh III , and Ni II complexes. Alkylation of N -(2-pyridyl)imidazole with [Cp(CO) 2 Mn(η 2 - P , C -Ph 2 P&z.dbd;C(H)Ph)]BF 4 followed by in situ photochemical demetallation leads to an NHC-core non-symmetric P N pro-ligand, whose aptitude to coordinate in a pincer mode was recognized in Rh I , Rh III and Ni II complexes.