Ethylenediamine complexes of the beryllium halides and pseudo-halides

Abstract

The suitability of ethylenediamine (en) as an alternative solvent to liquid ammonia in beryllium chemistry was evaluated. Therefore, BeF₂, BeCl₂, BeBr₂, BeI₂, [Be(NH₃)₄](N₃)₂, [Be(NH₃)₄](CN)₂ and [Be(NH₃)₄](SCN)₂ were reacted with ethylenediamine and analysed via NMR and IR spectroscopy. Additionally single crystal structures of [BeF₂(en)]_n, [Be(en)₃]Cl₂, [Be(en)₃]Br₂, [Be(en)₂]I₂·en, [Be(en)₂](N₃)₂·en, [Be(en)₂]₄(SCN)₇Cl and [Be₃(OH)₃(en)₃][C₂H₉N₂](SCN)₄ were obtained. The anions were found to have a distinct influence on the solubility as well as on the species present in solution and the solid state, while ethylenediamine can act as mono- and bidentate ligand or as a crystal solvent.