Evidence for the formation of a metal alkyl intermediate in the zinc mediated intramolecular hydroamination.

A diketiminato zinc amide complex, LZnNMe2 (1) [L = CH{(CMe)2(2,6-(i)Pr2C6H3N)2}], was prepared and investigated for the catalytic hydroamination of 2,2-dimethylpent-4-en-1-amine. The reaction with the amino olefin resulted in a transamination reaction and the subsequent insertion of the olefin moiety into the metal-amide bond. However, the reaction stopped at this point providing access to the metal alkyl intermediate, LZnR (R = N[upper bond 1 start]H-CH2-CPh2-CH2-C[upper bond 1 end]H-) (2). The isolation of this primary insertion product further strengthens the widely accepted mechanism for the intramolecular hydroamination.