Interligand C–C Coupling between α‑Methyl N‑Heterocycles and bipy or phen at Rhenium Tricarbonyl Complexes

Intramolecular
C–C coupling between N-bonded 1,2-dimethylimidazole, 2-methyloxazoline,
or 2-methylpyridine and either 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline
(phen) ligands results from α-methyl group deprotonation in
the coordination sphere of Re­(CO)3 fragments. The nucleophilic
CH2 group generated by the deprotonation attacks the 6
(bipy) or 2 (phen) positions of the diimines, dearomatizing the involved
pyridine ring and generating new asymmetric, fac-capping
tridentate ligands.