Reduction of benzophenone and 9(10H)-anthracenone with the magnesium complex [(2,6-iPr2C6H3-bian)Mg(thf)3]

The reduction of benzophenone with the magnesium complex [(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-bian)Mg(thf)(3)] (1), containing the 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene dianion, affords the pinacolato complex [(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-bian)Mg(thf)](2)[ mu-O2C2Ph4](.)(C6H6)(4) (2). The reaction of 1 with 9(10H)-anthracenone yields the 9-anthracenolato complex [(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-bian)Mg(OC14H9)(thf)(2)] (3). Complexes 2 and 3 were characterized by elemental analyses, UV/Vis, IR, and ESR spectroscopy, as well as by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 2 dissociates in solution with splitting of the bridging pinacolato unit, forming the biradical diimino/ketyl complex [(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-bian)Mg(thf)(OCPh2)].