Synthesis of an Arenide-Masked Scandium Complex Accom-panied by Reductively Induced C-H Activation

Reduction of 3N-supported ScCl(ketguan)(NImDipp) (ScCl) with K(C10H8) generates the naphthalenide-masked species [(18-c-6)K(μ-η6:η4-C10H8)Sc(ketguan)(NImDipp)] (Scnaph) and cyclometallated [K(18-c-6)(Et2O)][Sc{(DippN)[2-iPr-6-(CMe2)C6H3N]C(NCHtBu2)}(NImDipp)(THF)] (ScC-H·Et2O), the latter formed from a rare instance of oxidative addition of a low valent scandium center across an unactivated C(sp3)-H bond. Moreover, ScC-H displays solid-to-solution phase dependent tautomerism within the moiety of the scandium metallacyle. Finally, a safe and convenient method is described for the dehydration of ScCl3·6H2O.