Salalen: a hybrid Salan/Salen tetradentate [ONNO]-type ligand and its coordination behavior with group IV metals

A straightforward synthesis of Salalens, tetradentate [ONNO]-type ligands comprised of an amine-phenolate and an imine-phenolate subunits is introduced. The Salalen ligand precursor reacted with titanium(IV) ethoxide and with tetrakis(dimethylamido)zirconium to yield the corresponding [(Salalen)MX2]-type C1-symmetric complexes in a single isomeric form, indicating that Salalen is a genuine hybrid of its parent Salan and Salen ligands.