Structural complexity of the magnesiation of furan: an octadecanuclear product with a subporphyrin-like Mg(3)(2,5-fur-di-yl)(3) substructure

Subjecting furan to sodium- mediated magnesiation via the new heteroleptic alkyl- amido reagent [(TMEDA)center dot Na-( CH(2)SiMe(3))(TMP) Mg(TMP)] produces the remarkable dodecasodium - hexamagnesium molecule [{(TMEDA)(3)Na(6)Mg(3-)( CH(2)SiMe(3))(2,5-C(4)H(2)O)(3)(2-C(4)H(3)O)(5)}(2)], built upon a bridge network of 10 monodeprotonated and 6 twofold-deprotonated furan ligands.