Well-defined styryl and biphenyl calcium complexes from dilithio compounds and calcium iodide: synthesis, structure and reactivity toward nitrous oxide.

Efficient synthesis and structure elucidation of carbon-calcium σ-bonded compounds are of remarkable interest and importance in organometallic chemistry of the heavier s-block metals. In this paper, we report that styryl and biphenyl calcium complexes with well-defined structures can be facilely obtained via metathesis reaction between their corresponding dilithio compound and calcium iodide. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of these calcium complexes revealed their unique iodide-bridged or dicalcium-bridged structures. Their reactivity toward nitrous oxide was disclosed.