Diffusion of 2,6-bis (3-mesitylimidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine (Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes), 2) into a solution of CaI2 in THE leads to microcrystalline [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)CaI2] (3), in one case containing a few single crystals of the unique separated ion pair [(car(Mes)pycar(Mes))(2)(thf,,)Ca]I-2 (4) with four Ca-C bonds. However, isolation of single-crystalline [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)CaI2] (3) succeeds via the addition of 2 to a solution of [(thf)(5)CaI](+)[BPh4](-) due to a subsequent dismutation. Two modifications with the shapes of needles and cubes crystallize simultaneously. In contrast to this finding, the reaction of [(thf)(5)CaI](+)[AlPh4](-) with 2 yields solvent separated [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)(2)CaI](+)[AlPh4](-) (5). The Ca-C-NHC bond lengths lie in a typical range of Ca-(CAryl) sigma bonds and represent the shortest Ca-C-NHC bonds known to date. Soluble [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)Ca(NPh2)(2)] (6) can be prepared via a metathetical approach from 4 and KNPh2 as well as via the addition of 2 to Ca(NPh2)(2) in tetrahydrofuran. The bulkier amido ligands lead to elongated bonds between the calcium center and the ligand 2. Furthermore, the reactions of MI2 (M = Sr, Ba) with 2 yield [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)(2)MI2] (M = Sr (7), Ba (8)).
Diffusion of 2,6-bis (3-mesitylimidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine (Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes), 2) into a solution of CaI2 in THE leads to microcrystalline [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)CaI2] (3), in one case containing a few single crystals of the unique separated ion pair [(car(Mes)pycar(Mes))(2)(thf,,)Ca]I-2 (4) with four Ca-C bonds. However, isolation of single-crystalline [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)CaI2] (3) succeeds via the addition of 2 to a solution of [(thf)(5)CaI](+)[BPh4](-) due to a subsequent dismutation. Two modifications with the shapes of needles and cubes crystallize simultaneously. In contrast to this finding, the reaction of [(thf)(5)CaI](+)[AlPh4](-) with 2 yields solvent separated [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)(2)CaI](+)[AlPh4](-) (5). The Ca-C-NHC bond lengths lie in a typical range of Ca-(CAryl) sigma bonds and represent the shortest Ca-C-NHC bonds known to date. Soluble [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)Ca(NPh2)(2)] (6) can be prepared via a metathetical approach from 4 and KNPh2 as well as via the addition of 2 to Ca(NPh2)(2) in tetrahydrofuran. The bulkier amido ligands lead to elongated bonds between the calcium center and the ligand 2. Furthermore, the reactions of MI2 (M = Sr, Ba) with 2 yield [(Car(Mes)PyCar(Mes))(thf)(2)MI2] (M = Sr (7), Ba (8)).