Ketiminato and ketimine Co, Eu, Cu and Fe complexes

A series of metal complexes have been prepared using two similar ketiminato ligands, ArL1H (([RN(H)(C(Me))2C(Me)O], ((R = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (Dipp) or 2,6-dimethylphenyl, (Dmp)) and the less bulky, multidentate molecule L2H, ([RN(H)C(Me)CHC(Me)O] (R = C2H4NEt2)). Reaction of ArL1H or ArL1Na with Co(SCN)2, Eu(OTf)3 and Cu(OTf)2, afforded [Co(DippL1H)2(NCS)2] (1), [Eu(DippL1H)3(OTf)3] (2), and [Cu(OTf)2(DippL1H)2] (3). The coordination preferences of ArL1 and L2 with FeBr2 were investigated and yielded crystals of [Fe(DippL1)2] (4), [L2FeBr·LiBr(THF)2] (5), and [{(DmpNC(Me))2C(H)Me}FeBr2] (6). Complexes 1–6 have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, and other pertinent techniques.