The first metal complexes of bis(diisopropylamino)carbene: synthesis, structure and ligand properties

The synthesis of rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes of the bis(diisopropylamino)carbene is described for the first time. The formamidinium chloride and the free bis(diisopropylamino)carbene (L) were used as consecutive precursor compounds to form the metal complexes. Spectroscopic and, for LRh(cod)Cl, crystallographic data are presented for the complexes LRh(cod)Cl and LIr(cod)Cl (L=bis(diisopropylamino)carbene). The ligand properties of the acyclic bis(diisopropylamino)carbene are compared with imidazolin-2-ylidenes and imidazolidin-2-ylidenes as ligands in related rhodium(I) carbonyl complexes. Bis(diisopropylamino)carbene is the most basic known carbene ligand to date.