Molecular design approach to a highly soluble and volatile bimetallic alkoxide of late transition metal and zirconium. Synthesis, X-ray single crystal and mass-spectral study of NiZr2(acac)(OiPr)9

Heterometallic alkoxide complexes possessing a triangular M3(μ-OR)2(μ-OR)3 core are usually highly soluble in organic solvents and often display relatively high stability on transition into gas phase. Each metal atom is connected to four ligands within the core and needs two more donor atoms from the terminal ligands to complete octahedral coordination. This can be achieved for Ni(II), for example, by application of a bidentate chelating ligand such as the acetylacetonate one. Interaction of Ni(acac)2 with 1.5 eq. of [Zr(OiPr)4(iPrOH)]2 in toluene offers quantitatively [Zr(OiPr)3(acac)]2 together with the bimetallic complex NiZr2(acac)(OiPr)9 (1), possessing the desired structure and physical properties.