Aminotroponiminate alkyl and alkoxide complexes of zinc

Reaction of {(iPr)2ATI} H((iPr)2ATI = N-isopropyl-2-(isopropylamino)troponiminate) with dimethyl zinc in toluene afforded the methyl complex [{(iPr)2ATI}Zn–Me]. Subsequent reaction of [{(iPr)2ATI}Zn–Me] with different alcohols gave the alkoxide complexes [{(iPr)2ATI}Zn–OR]2 (R = iPr, tBu, Ph). These compounds, which were investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction, are dimeric in the solid-state. In the solid-state the metal centers are bridged symmetrically by two μ-oxygen atoms, thus a flat Zn–O–Zn′–O′ plane is observed. [{(iPr)2ATI}Zn–OR]2 were used as catalysts for the copolymerization experiments of epoxides and CO2.