Zirconium complexes incorporating the new tridentate diamide ligand [(Me3 Si)N{CH2CH2N(SiMe3)}2]2–(L); the crystal structures of [Zr(BH4)2L] and [ZrCl{CH(SiMe3)2}L]
Abstract
The lithium complex of the sterically demanding, polyfunctional amide ligand [(Me3Si)N-{CH2CH2N(SiMe3)}2]2–,Li2L reacted with [ZrCl4(thf)2](thf = tetrahydrofuran) to form dimeric [(ZrCl2L)2]2, in which the ligand is facially co-ordinated in a tridentate manner. Treatment of 2 with LiBH4 or Li[CH(SiMe3)2] generated [Zr(H3BH)L]3 and [ZrCl{CH(SiMe3)2}L]4, respectively. Variable-temperature NMR studies on 4 give evidence for restricted rotation of both the alkyl and amino SiMe3 groups. The crystal structures of 3 and 4 have been determined.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Geoff Cloke at 65: a pioneer in organometallic chemistry