Synthesis and characterisation of the first carbene-thallium complexes:: molecular structure of [TiCl3{CN(Mes)C2H2N(Mes)}], Mes = C6H2Me3-2,4,6

The reaction of the stable carbenes,:CN(Mes)C2R2N(Mes), R = H (IMes) or Br (IMesBr), with TlX3, X = Cl or Br, Mes = mesityl, yields the complexes, [TlX3, {CN(Mes)-C2R2N(Mes)}], one of which, [TlCl3(IMes)], has been crystallographically characterised and its thermal decomposition studied; further reaction of [TlCl3(IMes)] with one equivalent of :CN(Me)C2Me2N(Me) affords the mixed bis-carbene complex [TlCl3(IMes){CN(Me)C2Me2N(Me)}] which has been characterised spectroscopically.