Phosphine adducts of monomeric zinc(bis-phenoxides):: Solution and solid-state structures of (2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide)ZnL complexes (L = PMePh2 and PCy3)

The synthesis and X-ray structure of two phosphine derivatives of (2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide)(2)ZnL, where L = PPh2Me and PCy3, are described. The complexes are shown to be trigonal planar in the solid state and to exist as the phosphine adducts in toluene solution at ambient temperature. Although exchange between bound and free phosphine in solution is slow on the NMR time scale, the bulky PCy3 ligand is readily displaced by 1 equiv of the less basic, smaller phosphine, PMe3.