Facile synthesis of alkaline-earth-metal beta-diketonates and the structure of the loose dimer [{Ca(hfpd)(2)}(2)(heptaglyme)] [hfpd equals F3CCOCHCOCF3 and heptaglyme equals Me(OCH2CH2)(7)OMe]

The reaction of the Group 2 metal hydroxides, oxides or carbonates in 95% ethanol in the presence of a suitable glyme ligand L-L [i.e. Me(OCH2CH2)(n)OMe, n = 3, 4 or 7] and a beta-diketone, has yielded either [M(beta-diket),(L-L)] or [{M(beta-diket)(2)}(2)(L-L)][M = Mg-Ba; beta-diket = Htmhd (2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dione), Hhfpd (1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dione), Hdppd (1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dione) or Hfod(1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-7,7-dimethyloctane-4,6-dione, L-L = tri-, tetra- or hepta-glyme)]. The crystal structure of the complex [{Ca(hfpd)(2)}(2)(heptaglyme)] has been determined, revealing it to contain two Ca(hfpd), units linked by a glyme ligand in an unusual symmetrical bridging/chelating mode.