Mg(I) dimers have also been researched for carbon monoxide, CO, activation. Further research regarding the synthesis of these complexes revealed that their behavior can be compared to low-valent f-blocks compounds concerning the reduction of CO, socyanides, and nitriles.
Computational studies carried out further reinforced this idea by showing parallels between CO activation with f-block metal hydride complexes. The researchers first started with Mg(I) dimers. These dimers were then hydrogenated in hopes of generating magnesium(II) dimers. Additionally, the hydrogenation of Mg(I) dimers in a CO atmosphere, led to Cross-Coupled alkoxy products. The mechanism in which this reaction proceeded was shown by the computational studies to proceed similarly to related reactions of f-block metal hydride complexes. More specifically, researchers drew a close analogy to the reactivity of [{(DippNacnac)Mg}] towards CO. After the reaction was carried out, the dimer was shown to have a similar reactivity towards CO that could also be shown in samarium(II) or uranium(III) complexes. This reaction could also illustrate the potential magnesium(I) dimers have for the conversion of H/CO mixtures. By using more reactive dimers, it was hypothesized that uses for the stoichiometric or catalytic transformation of CO/H mixtures to value added oxygenate products. Finally, the similarity to low-valent f-block complexes can give rise to a more affordable, nontoxic, and nonradioactive practices. Comparatively, the diamagnetic dimer could also a difference in electronic properties when compared to paramagnetic nature of the lanthanides and actinides.