Tetranuclear homoleptic copper and silver aryls: 2,4,6-Triethylphenylcopper and 2,4,6-triethylphenylsilver

Abstract

The ethyl analogues of mesitylcopper and mesitylsilver, 2,4,6-triethylphenylcopper and 2,4,6-triethylphenylsilver, have been prepared and characterised by means of crystal structure determination. Three different compounds, [Cu 4(Et 3Ph) 4] · 2C 6H 5CH 3 ( 1), [ Cu 4 ( Et 3 Ph ) 4 ] · 1 2 ( C 2 H 5 ) 2 O ( 2 ) and [ Ag 4 ( Et 3 Ph ) 4 ] · 1 2 C 6 H 5 CH 3 ( 3 ) , have thus been obtained by crystallisation from toluene or diethylether/tetrahydrofuran. All three show the square-planar metal core, most characteristic of homoleptic copper and silver aryls. The ordered ( 1) or disordered ( 2 and 3) solvent molecules are situated in the channels formed between the organometallic complexes, there being no strong directional interactions between the solvent and 2,4,6-triethylphenylcopper or 2,4,6-triethylphenylsilver.