Synthesis and characterisation of aluminium and magnesium complexes supported by pendant oxalic amidinate ligands

Two pendant oxalic amidine compounds [C6H5N=C{NH(CH2)2OMe}-C{NH(CH2)2OMe}=NC6H5](1)(oxam(OMe)2H2) and [C6H5N=C{NH (CH2)2NMe2}-C{NH(CH2)2NMe2}=NC6H5](2)(oxam(NMe2)2H2) are described. Reactions of 1 or 2 with two molar equivalents of AlMe3 in toluene give the bimetallic complexes [(Me2)Al(oxam(OMe)2)Al(Me2)](3) and [(Me2)Al(oxam(NMe2)2)Al(Me2)](4), respectively. Treatment of 1 or 2 with two molar equivalents of MeMgBr in THF affords the bimetallic complexes [(Br)(THF)Mg(oxam(OMe)2)Mg(THF) (Br)](5) and [(Br)(THF)Mg(oxam(NMe2)2)Mg(THF)(Br)](6) respectively. The crystal and molecular structures are reported for compounds 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.