Zincation of primary amines: synthesis and structures of dimeric alkylzinc amides

The zincation of triisopropylsilylamine with dimethyl- and diethylzinc yields dimeric methylzinc (1) and ethylzinc triisopropylsilylamide (2). Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, 2 in P2(1)/c. The reaction of dimethylzinc with adamantylamine gives [(THF)ZnMe][(AdNH(2))ZnMe][mu -N(H)Ad](2) (3) which crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n. All these compounds have central Zn2N2 cycles. Contrary to 1 and 2 with triply coordinated metal centers, the zinc atoms in 3 show a distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere due to the contact to the neutral coligands THF and adamantylamine. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.