title: Synthetic and structural investigations of alkali metal diamine bis(phenolate) complexes.
abstract: Two lithium and one sodium diamine bis(phenolate) complexes have been prepared and characterised by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. Two parent diamine bis(phenol) ligands were utilised in the study (1-H2 and 2-H2). Dimeric (1-Li2)(2) was prepared by treating 1-H2 with two molar equivalents of n-butyllithium in hydrocarbon solvent. It adopts a ladder-like structure in the solid state, which appears to deaggregate in C6D6 solution. The monomeric (hence, dinuclear) TMEDA-solvated species [2-Li(2).(TMEDA)] has two chemically unique Li atoms in the solid state and is prepared by reacting 2-H2 with two molar equivalents of n-butyllithium in hydrocarbon solvent, in the presence of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA). Finally, the dimeric sodium-based [2-Na(2) x (OEt2](2) was prepared by reacting 1-H2 with two molar equivalents of freshly prepared n-butylsodium in a hydrocarbon-diethyl ether medium. The complex adopts a Na4O4) cuboidal structure in the solid state, which appears to remain intact in C6D6 solution.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences (Chemistry), Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Clegg
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Griffen
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Charles T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Calum M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Thomson