Reactions of coordinated alcohol as a route to mixed-metal La-Zn alkoxides:: molecular structure of LaZn3(μ-OBut)6[N(SiMe3)2]3

The reactions between La-3(OBut)(9)(HOBut)(2) and Zn[N(SiMe3)(2)](2) have been investigated as a means to access to La-Zn species. A volatile complex LaZn3(mu-OBut)(6)[N(SiMe3)(2)](3) (1) was obtained at room temperature together with La4Zn2O(OBut)(13)[N(SiMe3)(2)] (2) and [La4O(OBut)(10)](2) (3). The reaction was more selective under reflux although retention of the Zn-N(SiMe3)(2) bond was still observed giving La4Zn2(OBut)(15)[N(SiMe3)(2)] (4). No La-Zn species were obtained if the La-3 solvate was refluxed with either Zn(OBut)[N(SiMe3)(2)] or [Zn(OBut)(2)](m); La-5(mu(5)-O)(OBut)(13) was isolated in the latter case. The various compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, FTlR,H-1 NMR. 1 was also characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction; its molecular structure is based on a central 6-coordinate lanthanum with 3-coordinate zinc atoms. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.