Room-Temperature-Stable Magnesium Electride via Ni(II) Reduction

Abstract

Herein, we report the synthesis of highly reduced bipyridyl magnesium complexes and the first example of a stable organic magnesium electride supported by quantum mechanical computations and X-ray diffraction. These complexes serve as unconventional homogeneous reductants due to their high solubility, modular redox potentials, and formation of insoluble, noncoordinating byproducts. The applicability of these reductants is showcased by accessing low-valent (bipy)₂Ni(0) species that are challenging to access otherwise.