Selective oxygen capture in lithium zincate chemistry: the syntheses and solid-state structures of (µ-O)Zn4[N(2-C5H4N)Bz]6 and But(µ3-O)Li3(µ6-O)Zn3[N(2-C5H4N)Me]6 (Bz = benzyl)

Abstract

Sequential reaction of ZnMe₂ with the (2-pyridyl)amines HN(2-C₅H₄N)R (R = Bz = benzyl 1, Me 2), Bu^tLi and oxygen affords species which demonstrate oxo-encapsulation {(µ₄-O)Zn₄[N(2-C₅H₄N)Bz]₆ 3}, and both encapsulation and insertion into a CLi bond {Bu^t(µ₃-O)Li₃(µ₆-O)Zn₃[N(2-C₅H₄N)Me]₆ 4}; in the solid-state 4 has a new type of fac-isomeric (µ₆-O)M₃M′₃ octahedral core.