title: Conformational isomerism in monomeric, low-coordinate group 12 complexes stabilized by a naphthyl-substituted m-terphenyl ligand.
abstract: The synthesis and characterization of the first series of low-coordinate bis(terphenyl) complexes of the Group 12 metals, [Zn(2,6-Naph2 C6 H3 )2 ] (1), [Cd(OEt2 )(2,6-Naph2 C6 H3 )2 ] (2) and [Hg(OEt2 )(2,6-Naph2 C6 H3 )2 ] (3) (Naph=1-C10 H7 ) are described. The naphthyl substituents of the terphenyl ligands confer considerable steric bulk, and as a result of limited flexibility introduce multiple conformations to these unusual systems. In the solid state, complex 1 features a two-coordinate Zn centre with the ligands oriented in a syn/anti conformation, whereas the three-coordinate distorted T-shaped complexes 2 and 3 feature the ligands in the syn/syn configurations. The results of DFT calculations are in good agreement with the solid-state configurations for these complexes and support the spectroscopic measurements, which indicate several conformers in solution.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gridley
authors.forename: Graeme J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Moxey
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kays
keywords: NMR spectroscopy; aryl complexes; conformation analysis; density functional calculations; terphenyl ligands