Aminotroponiminate alkyl and alkoxide complexes of zinc

Reaction of {(iPr)₂ATI} H((iPr)₂ATI = N-isopropyl-2-(isopropylamino)troponiminate) with dimethyl zinc in toluene afforded the methyl complex [{(iPr)₂ATI}Zn-Me]. Subsequent reaction of [{(iPr)₂ATI}Zn-Me] with different alcohols gave the alkoxide complexes [{(iPr)₂ATI}Zn-OR]₂ (R = iPr, tBu, Ph). These compounds, which were investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction, are dimeric in the solid-state. In the solid-state the metal centers are bridged symmetrically by two μ-oxygen atoms, thus a flat Zn-O-Zn′-O′ plane is observed. [{(iPr)₂ATI}Zn-OR]₂ were used as catalysts for the copolymerization experiments of epoxides and CO₂.