Cyclometalation and coupling of a rigid 4,5-bis(imino)acridanide pincer ligand on yttrium

An extremely rigid NNN-donor proligand, 4,5-bis{(diphenylmethylene)amino}-2,7,9,9-tetramethylacridan, H[AIm2] was prepared in five steps starting from 5-methyl-2-aminobenzoic acid and 4-bromotoluene. Reaction of intensely orange H[AIm2] with LiCH2SiMe3 formed deep blue Li(x)[AIm2]x (x = 2 in the solid state), while reaction with [Y(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] (0.5 equiv.) afforded deep blue [Y(AIm2)(AIm)] (1; AIm = an AIm2 ligand cyclometalated at the …