Zinc(II) complexes of putative obligate tetrahedrally co-ordinating pro-ligands

Abstract

An attempt to impose tetrahedral geometry on zinc(II) through use of bis(salicylideneamino)biphenyl pro-ligands has produced hydrolytically sensitive complexes. The single-crystal structures of [ZnL(EtOH)][H₂L = 6,6′-dimethyl-2,2′-bis(salicylideneamino)biphenyl][monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a= 11.654(2), b= 11.753(2), c= 18.878(3)Å, β= 98.97(2)°, Z= 4] and its pro-ligand H₂L [monoclinic, space group I2/c, a= 13.911(2), b= 13.759(2), c= 12.015(2)Å, β= 94.836(10)°, Z= 4] have been determined. The co-ordination geometry at zinc is slightly distorted trigonal bipyramidal.