Synthesis and Single Crystal X-ray Structures of Cationic Zinc -Diketiminate Complexes

The cationic zinc complex [L1Zn][Al(OC(CF3)3)4] (1) (L1 = {[(2,4,6-Me3-C6H2)NC(Me)]2CH}) bearing a weakly coordinating aluminate anion was obtained from reaction of L1ZnCl with Li[Al(OC(CF3)3)4]. In addition, base-stabilized zinc cations [L1/2Zn(base)2][X] (2-5) (L2 = {[(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)NC(Me)]2CH}; X = [Al(OC(CF3)3)4], [B(C6F5)4]) containing weakly coordinating anions and different Lewis bases (dimethylaminopyridine (dmap), tert-butylpyridine (tBuPy)) were synthesized and structurally characterized. Moreover, the solid-state structures of L1ZnMe (6) and the neutral base-stabilized complexes tBuPy-Zn(Cl)L1 (7) and base-Zn(Me)L2 (base = dmap 8, tBuPy 9) are reported and compared with those of 2-5. Preliminary studies showed that 1 is catalytically activity in lactide polymerization at 160 degrees C.