Synthesis and characterisation of complexes of the 2,6-diphenoxyphenyl ligand

The use of the 2,6-diphenoxyphenyl ligand has facilitated the stabilisation of lithium, silane and stannane complexes. The ortho-metallation reaction between 1,3-(PhO)2C6H4 and nBuLi yields 2,6-(PhO)2C6H3Li (1); the crystallographically characterised dimer [2,6-(PhO)2C6H3Li(OEt2)]2 ([1.Et2O]2) can be obtained by the crystallisation of 1 from diethyl ether. The reaction between 1 and Me3ECl gives rise to the structurally authenticated complexes 2,6-(PhO)2C6H3EMe3 [E = Si, 2; E = Sn, 3].