Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of a zwitterionic amine bridged bis(phenolate) lanthanide complex

Abstract

A zwitterionic amine bridged bis(phenolate) ytterbium(III) complex was synthesized, and its reactivity with a zinc cluster was explored. The reaction of (C 5H 5) 3Yb(THF) with the amine bridged bis(phenol) HONNOH [ONNO = Me 2NCH 2CH 2N{CH 2-(2-O-C 6H 2-Bu t 2-3,5)} 2] in a 1:2 M ratio in toluene at 80 °C produced the zwitterionic ytterbium complex [ONNO]Yb[ONNO(μ 4-H)] ( 1) in a high isolated yield. The reaction of ZnEt 2 with 1 equiv of PhCH 2OH gave a zinc cluster Zn 7Et 6(OCH 2Ph) 8 ( 2) in a good isolated yield. Complex 1 reacted with complex 2 in a 7:1 M ratio at room temperature to afford the unexpected ligand redistributed product [ONNO]Zn(THF) ( 3). These complexes were well characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and NMR spectroscopy in the case of complexes 2 and 3. The definitive molecular structures of complexes 2 and 3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray analyses.