Cobalt(-i) triphos dinitrogen complexes: activation and silyl-functionalisation of N2

The cobalt dinitrogen complexes [{(EP3Ph)Co(μ-N2)}2Mg(THF)4], with triphos ligand scaffolds (EP3Ph, E = N or CMe), were prepared via two electron reductions of the Co(i) precursors [CoCl(EP3Ph)]. Both complexes showed high degrees of N2 activation owing to the formation of a rare M–NN–Mg–NN–M bridging-magnesium core. These systems showed further N2 functionalisation reactivity by silylation, forming silyldiazenido complexes [(EP3Ph)Co(NNSiMe3)].