Formation of paramagnetic metallacyclobutadienes by reaction of diaminoacetylenes with molybdenum alkylidyne complexes.

The reactions of the molybdenum alkylidyne complex [MesC[triple bond, length as m-dash]Mo{OCMe(CF3)2}3] (1) with the diaminoacetylenes R2NC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CNR2 (2, NR2 = 4-methylpiperidinyl; 3, NR2 = NEt2; Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) afforded the metallacyclobutadiene (MCBD) complexes 4 and 5. In contrast to all other MCBD complexes, 4 and 5 are paramagnetic and best described as Mo(iv) species containing an anionic diaminodicarbene of the type [(R2N)CC(Mes)C(NR2)]-.