Interligand C-C coupling between α-methyl N-heterocycles and bipy or phen at rhenium tricarbonyl complexes

Intramolecular C-C coupling between N-bonded 1,2-dimethylimidazole, 2-methyloxazoline, or 2-methylpyridine and either 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands results from α-methyl group deprotonation in the coordination sphere of Re(CO) fragments. The nucleophilic CH group generated by the deprotonation attacks the 6 (bipy) or 2 (phen) positions of the diimines, dearomatizing the involved pyridine ring and generating new asymmetric, fac-capping tridentate ligands.The authors thank MINECO and FEDER (Grant CTQ2015-70231-P) and Principado de Asturias (Grant FC-15-GRUPIN14-103) for funding and the Ministerio de Educación for an FPU predoctoral fellowship (to R.A.).Peer Reviewe