A Discrete Ortho-Lithiated Acetophenone Imine Derivative: Isolation, Characterization, and Synthesis of Group IV Metal Complexes

The reaction of a 3‘,4‘-methylenedioxyacetophenone imine (L-H; 1) with nBuLi allows for the synthesis and isolation of a discrete ortho-lithiated imine (L-Li; 2). Through the use of salt metathesis pathways, this monoanionic, chelating N∼C ligand has been employed to produce a series of titanium and zirconium complexes, including L2MX2 (M = Ti, X = Cl (5); M = Zr, X = Cl (3), CH2SiMe3 (4)) and L2TiNtBu (6).