GROUP-IIA METAL BETA-DIKETONATE COMPLEXES - THE CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES OF [SR3(TMHD)6(HTMHD)]CENTER-DOT-C6H5ME-CENTER-DOT-C5H12 AND [BA4(TMHD)8] (HTMHD = 2,2,6,6-TETRAMETHYLHEPTANE-3,5-DIONE)

Hydrocarbon-soluble Group IIA metal ethoxides [{M(OEt)2(EtOH)4}n] (M = Sr or Ba) react with the beta-diketonate 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionate (Htmhd) to yield the volatile complexes [Sr3(tmhd)6(Htmhd)] and [Ba4(tmhd)8] in excellent yield. These materials have been studied by classical spectroscopic techniques, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. They have also been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 150 K, and shown to exist as a trimer and tetramer respectively, the former also incorporating a neutral Htmhd ligand.