Cyclic ether fragmentation and identification of a quadruple open cubane motif for hexametallic aggregates

Reaction of Bu2Mg with 2,6-diisopropylaniline in 1,4-dioxane solution results in double deprotonation of the amine to produce the imide [2,6-iPr2C6H3NMg · (dioxane)n]. An ether cleavage side product of this reaction was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and was found to possess an interesting composition and molecular structure. The complex [Mg6{2,6-iPr2C6H3N(H)}4(OCH2CH2O)2{OCH2CH2OC(H)double bond; length as m-dashCH2}4], 2, is constructed from six metals, four primary amides, four alkoxy vinyl ethers and two diolates. The core of 2 is created from nine interconnected four-membered rings, and resembles a section of the CdI2 layer structure. Complex 2 also contains four-, five- and six-coordinate metal centers within a single molecular structure.