Highly symmetrical chromium(II) bisdiketiminate complexes

Reaction of the lithium salts of N,N′-dialkyl-2-amino-4-imino-pent-2-enes, nacnac^RLi(THF) (R = CH₂Ph, Cy, nPr, iBu or S-CH(Me)Ph), with half an equivalent of CrCl₂(THF)_x yielded the homoleptic complexes (nacnac^R)₂Cr. All complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction studies and displayed a highly symmetric, square-planar coordination around the chromium center with strong boat-like distortions of the diketiminate ligands. Reaction of nacnac^RLi(THF) (R = CH₂Ph, Cy) with one equivalent of CrCl₂(THF)_x afforded the dimeric complexes {nacnac^RCr(μ-Cl)}₂.