Reaction of metallic magnesium with azobenzene in tetrahydrofuran at 50 ℃ with the aid of catalytic amount of iodine leads to the novel magnesium-azobenzene complex of[(THF)2Mg]2(μ-η1:η2-N2Ph2)2 and small amount of Mg(THF)6I2.The magnesium-azobenzene complex was characterized by elemental analysis,infrared spectrum and X-ray crystallography.In the reaction the azobenzene molecules were fully reduced to be dianionic Ph2N22-ligands,coordinating two Mg2+ ions as two bridges to form a bimetallic complex.The moderate high temperature and catalytic amount of iodine were essential for the reaction.
