Synthesis of Molecular Phenylcalcium Derivatives: Application to the Formation of Biaryls

Hydrocarbon-soluble β-diketiminato phenylcalcium derivatives, which display various modes of Ca-μ(2) -Ph-Ca bridging, are accessible from reactions of Ph(2) Hg and [(BDI)CaH](2) . Although the resultant compounds are inert toward the C-H bonds of benzene, they yield selective and uncatalyzed biaryl formation when reacted with readily available aryl bromides.