Reactivity of Strontium Hydride Supported by the Superbulky Hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate Ligand.

Hydrogenolysis of [(Tp)Sr{CH(SiMe)}] () (Tp = hydrotris(3-adamantyl-5-isopropyl-pyrazolyl)borate) in hexane solution under 20 atm of H allowed for the isolation of strontium hydride [(Tp)Sr(μ-H)] () in good yield. Complex exhibits the dimeric nature in solid state, featuring two different bond modes between the Sr center and Tp ligand. Treatment of complex with PhC(H)═NBu or PhCHBpin (Bpin = pinacolateborane) afforded the strontium amide complex [(Tp)Sr{N(CHPh)(Bu)}] () and hydroborate complex [(Tp)Sr{μ-HBpin(CHPh)}] (), respectively. Reactions of complex with 2-picoline, 2-phenylquinoline, or 2-phenylpyridine led to the formation of strontium 2-pyridylmethylene/2-picoline complex [(Tp)Sr(2-CH-Py)(2-picoline)] (), reductively coupling diphenyl-biquinolide complex [{(Tp)Sr}(2,2'-Ph-4,4'-dihydro-4,4'-biquinolide)] (), and diphenyl-bipyridyl radical complex [(Tp)Sr(6,6'-Ph-2,2'-bipyridyl)] (), separately. All of the complexes have been well characterized, including NMR spectrum and single-crystal X-ray analysis.