Zinc-Mediated Transmetalation as a Route to Anionic <i>N</i>‑Heterocyclic Olefin Complexes in the p‑Block

Anionic N-heterocyclic olefins (aNHOs) are suited well for the stabilization of low-coordinate inorganic complexes, due to their steric tunability and strong σ- and π-electron donating abilities. In this study, the new two-coordinate zinc complex (MeIPrCH)2Zn (MeIPrCH = [(MeCNDipp)2CCH]−, Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) is shown to participate in a broad range of metathesis reactions with main group element-based halides and hydrides. In the case of the group 14 halides, Cl2E·dioxane (E = Ge and Sn), transmetalation occurs to form dinuclear propellane-shaped cations, [(MeIPrCHE)2(μ-Cl)]+, while the aNHO-capped phosphine ligand MeIPrCH-PPh2 is obtained when (MeIPrCH)2Zn is combined with ClPPh2. Lastly, ZnH2 elimination drives transmetalation between (MeIPrCH)2Zn and hydroboranes and hydroalumanes, leading to Lewis acidic aNHO-supported -boryl and -alane products.