title: Zinc compounds with or without Zn-Zn bond: alkali metal reduction of LZnCl2 (L = alpha-diimine ligands).
abstract: A series of mononuclear and dinuclear zinc compounds, [Na(Et(2)O)](2)[((H)L(iPr))Zn-Zn((H)L(iPr))] x Et(2)O (1), [Zn(2)((H)L(iPr))(3)K(2)(Et(2)O)(2)](n) (2, (H)L(iPr) = [(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))NCH](2)), [Zn((H)L(Mes))(2)] (4, (H)L(Mes) = [(2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2))NCH](2)), and [ZnL(Mes)(2)Na(2)(THF)(2)] (5, L(Mes) = [(2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2))NC(Me)](2)), and a potassium complex, [((H)L(iPr))(2)K(4)(THF)(2)](n) (3), have been synthesized by alkali metal reduction of the corresponding LZnCl(2) precursors. The Zn-Zn bond in 1 (2.3673(6) A) is slightly shorter than that in the analogous compounds [M(THF)(2)](2)[L(iPr)Zn-ZnL(iPr)] (L(iPr) = [(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))NC(Me)](2), M = Na, 2.399(1) A; M = K, 2.393(1) A). Complexes 2 and 3 feature a two- and one-dimensional (linear chain) polymeric structure, respectively, linked by K-C bonds between the potassium ion and aryl carbon atoms. Notably, complex 2 contains a ligand whose central C(2)N(2) core is in the trans conformation, acting as a non-chelating bridge between the two zinc atoms. While the ligands in 1, 2, 3 and 5 are doubly reduced to the dianion, complex 4 contains a pair of monoanionic ligands.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Oxo Synthesis & Selective Oxidation, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
authors.forename: Peiju
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-Juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chunxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu-Heng
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D007097:Imines / Q000737:chemistry*; D008024:Ligands; D008672:Metals, Alkali / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007097:Imines; D008024:Ligands; D008672:Metals, Alkali; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015032:Zinc