C–Cl bond cleavage of CH2Cl2 by the zinc(II) complex [Zn(phen)L2] image with the formation of [Zn(phen)LCl] and CH2[PhC(S)NP(O)(OiPr)2]2

The reaction of [Zn(phen)L2] image with CH2Cl2 leads to the formation of complex [Zn(phen)LCl] and S,S′-bis(benzimidothio-N-diisopropoxyphosphoryl)methane L–CH2–L in high yields. Using CHCl3 or CCl4 instead of CH2Cl2 does not lead to the formation of chlorine substituted products even under reflux conditions. Compounds obtained were investigated by 1H and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, and microanalysis. The crystal structure of [Zn(phen)LCl] was elucidated by X-ray diffraction. The Zn(II) atom in the complex is in a distorted tetragonal-pyramidal ClN2OS environment. The structure is stabilized by the intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the type C–H⋯Cl–Zn and π⋯π stacking interactions between the phenanthroline rings.