| Synthesis of a new bis(imino) pyridine with t-butyl substituents on the imino carbon atoms, 2,6-{(2,6-Me2-C6H3)NC( t-Bu)}2C5H3N, by a new step-wise method is described. Metalation attempts under a range of conditions did not yield the desired metal complexes. Computational studies were carried out to evaluate the relative energies of three conformations of this and other Cs- and C1-symmetric bis(imino) pyridine ligands which revealed a thermodynamic explanation for the failure to metalate. Relative energies were used to determine the feasibility of metalation of C1-symmetric bis(imino) pyridine ligands. Progress was made towards the synthesis of a new C1-symmetric bis(imino)pyridine ligand with a t-butyl substituent on one imino carbon atom and a phenyl substituent on the other imino carbon atom. |
