The Synthesis and Structure of Tris[2-(1,4-diisopropylimidazolyl)]phosphine Zinc Nitrate, [Pim^Pr₂i]Zn(NO₃)₂: Structural Consequences of t-Butyl versus Isopropyl Substitution in Tris(imidazoly1)phosphine Zinc Complexes

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kimblin, Clare | Allen, William E. | Parkin, Gerard

Affiliations: Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027 | Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599

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Abstract: The zinc complex [PimPr2i]Zn(NO3)2 has been synthesized by the reaction of tris[2-(1,4-diisopropylimidazolyl)]phosphine [PimPr2i] with Zn(NO3)2·6(H2O). Comparison of the structure of [PimPr2i]Zn(NO3)2 with its more heavily substituted analogue {[PimPri,Buf]Zn(NO3)} (NO3)demonstrates the rather dramatic structural consequences of replacing the t-butyl substituents in the 4-positions of the imidazolyl moieties with isopropyl groups. Specifically, [PimPr2i]Zn(NO3)2 exists as a six-coordinate complex with both unidentate and bidentate nitrate ligands whereas {[PimPri,Buf]Zn(NO3)} (NO3) exists as an ion pair with a single nitrate ligand coordinated to zinc in an anisobidentate mode. [PimPr2i]Zn(NO3)2 is orthorhombic, Pbca (No. 61), a = 18.870(4) Å, b = 17.273(7) Å, c = 20.641(4) Å, V = 6758(3) Å3, z = 8.

DOI: 10.1080/13583149612331338577

Journal: Main Group Chemistry, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 297-300, 1996