Alkaline Earth Metals: Organometallic Chemistry

Abstract

The organometallic chemistry of the alkaline earth metals has undergone a renaissance during the last decade with exciting novel uses of the organomagnesium reagents in synthetic chemistry to significantly extend the utility of these well‐developed reagents. With the development of the organometallic chemistry of the heavier metals significantly lagging behind, and past work mainly focusing on and establishing π‐bonded metal–ligand systems, intense research efforts during the last decade have contributed significantly to expand the understanding of the organometallic compounds of these metals, establishing σ‐bonded organometallic compounds for the heavy alkaline earth metals. This improved insight did not only provide the basis for a more detailed understanding of the metal–ligand bonding characteristics, but also paved the way towards the successful applications of the compounds as polymerization initiators and in organic synthetic chemistry. This article summarizes some of the recent, exciting developments in regards to alkaline earth organometallics.

When VSEPR Fails: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations of the Behavior of Alkaline‐Earth‐Metal Acetylides

“…The highly reactive benzyl reagents cleave THF at ambient conditions under enolate formation, and so low-temperature reaction conditions (−40°C) are required. [18] Despite these limitations, toluene elimination is a powerful methodology for the preparation of a wide array of alkaline-earth organometallics, especially for less acidic ligand systems.…”

“…[17] Aside from answering important questions about the influence of metal, ligand, and donor on compound geometry, the target compounds provide an extension to the rapidly growing family of heavy alkaline earth organometallics. [18] …”

Synthesis, characterisation and reactivity of group 2 complexes with a thiopyridyl scorpionate ligand

“…Solvent suppression procedures were implemented in the acquisition of 1 Satisfactory elemental analysis results for 1 could not be obtained due to the presence of impurities which could not be separated even upon repeated crystallisation attempts. A very small crop of crystals of 4-Ca‧2DME (ca.…”

“…The organometallic chemistry of the Alkaline Earth (AE) metals has undergone a true renaissance over the last three decades. [1][2][3][4] A lot of the interest around these metals arises from their high abundance in the Earth's crust and low toxicity, with the notable exceptions of beryllium and radium. 5 The abundances of the group 2 metals are far greater than those of precious metals commonly employed in industrial processes, e.g.…”

“…1 H NMR (400 MHz, 298 K, C 6 D 6 ): 0.47 (18H, s, SiCH 3 ), 6.32 (3H, t, 3 J HH = 6.3 Hz, C 5 H 4 N-…”