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

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