THE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE GROUP-IIA HOMOLEPTIC ARYLOXIDES UNDER MILD CONDITIONS, [M(OAR')2]2, AND THE ADDUCTS [M(OAR')2(L)X].L(M=CA, SR, BA - AR'=2,4,6,-TRI-T-BUTYL-PHENOL - L=THF, X=3 - M=BA - L=DME, X=2 - AND L=HMPA, X=3) - AND THE X-RAY STRUCTURE OF [SR(OAR')2(THF)3].0.5THF

The homoleptic group IIA phenoxides, [M(OAr')2]2 (M = Ca, Sr and Ba), have been synthesized by the reaction of the bulk metal and 2,4,6,-tri-t-butyl-phenol in a mixed ammonia-toluene solution at -40-degrees-C. Ammonia adducts are initially obtained, [M(OAr')2(NH3)x]n, which may be readily converted to the homoleptic dimers by the toluene reflux method. The dimeric complexes [M(OAr')2]2 react with a range of Lewis bases to yield the monomeric adducts [M(OAr')2(L)x].L. All complexes have been characterized by IR, H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy, solution cryoscopy (in selected cases) and microanalysis. The X-ray structure of [Sr(OAr')2(THF)3].(THF) reveals that it has a monomeric distorted trigonal bipyramidal structure with two THF ligands in apical positions, while the fourth THF molecule is present as a hemi-solvate.