Reactions of Aromatic N-Heterocycles with Yttrium and Lutetium Benzyl Complexes Supported by a Pyridine-Diamide Ligand

A comparison between the reactivity behavior of yttrium and lutetium benzyl complexes supported by a pyridine diamide, on one hand, and by a ferrocene diamide, on the other hand, toward aromatic N-heterocycles, such as 1-methylimidazole, isoquinoline, acridine, and 2-picoline, is presented. The ring opening of 1-methylimidazole by the pyridine-diamide complexes was observed, analogously to the ring opening of the same substrate by group 3 benzyl complexes supported by the ferrocene-diamide ligand. Also, analogous products were observed in the reactions with 2-picoline and isoquinoline. However, when acridine was employed, different products were obtained for the two metal centers: alkyl transfer for yttrium and ortho-metalation for lutetium.