Synthesis of Molecular Phenylcalcium Derivatives: Application to the Formation of Biaryls.

Abstract

Hydrocarbon‐soluble β‐diketiminato phenylcalcium derivatives, which display various modes of Ca−μ2‐Ph−Ca bridging, are accessible from reactions of Ph2Hg and [(BDI)CaH]2. Although the resultant compounds are inert toward the C−H bonds of benzene, they yield selective and uncatalyzed biaryl formation when reacted with readily available aryl bromides.