Interligand C–C Coupling between α-Methyl N-Heterocycles and bipy or phen at Rhenium Tricarbonyl Complexes

Intramolecular C–C coupling between N-bonded 1,2-dimethylimidazole, 2-methyloxazoline, or 2-methylpyridine and either 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands results from α-methyl group deprotonation in the coordination sphere of Re(CO)3 fragments. The nucleophilic CH2 group generated by the deprotonation attacks the 6 (bipy) or 2 (phen) positions of the diimines, dearomatizing the involved pyridine ring and generating new asymmetric, fac-capping tridentate ligands.