A dinuclear zinc complex containing a diamond-core geometry: [Zn2(μ2-GueO)2(GueO)2(py)2]·0.5(toluene) (GueOH is guethol)

Abstract

The title zinc alkoxide, bis(μ-2-ethoxyphenolato)-κ(3)O(1),O(2):O(1);κ(3)O(1):O(1),O(2)-bis[(2-ethoxyphenolato-κ(2)O(1),O(2))(pyridine-κN)zinc(II)] toluene hemisolvate, [Zn2(C8H9O2)4(C5H5N)2]·0.5C7H8, crystallizes with two independent complex molecules located on inversion centres and one independent toluene solvent molecule disordered about an inversion centre. The Zn(II) atoms are six-coordinated in distorted octahedral geometries with O5N donor sets. The Zn(II) ions and bridging alkoxide groups are arranged in a diamond Zn2O2 core structure. The guetholate (2-ethoxyphenolate) ligands adopt two different coordination modes, viz. peripheral chelating and μ2-bridging. Preliminary investigations of the catalytic activity of the compound in the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide demonstrate rapid and efficient generation of polylactide.