Publication

Abstract : The reaction of (NHC)ZnEt2 (1) with 2,6-dimethylphenol in the molar ratio 1:2 at room temperature resulted in a monomeric zinc dimethylphenoxide [(NHC)Zn(OC6H3-2,6-Me2)2] (NHC = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) (2). Whereas, the reaction of 1 with 2,6-dimethylphenol in the presence of water in the molar ratios 1:2:0.5 or 1:2:1 afforded [(NHC)2Zn2(μ-OH)(μ-OC6H3-2,6-Me2)(OC6H3-2,6-Me2)2] (3) and [(NHC)Zn(μ-OH)(OC6H3-2,6-Me2)]2 (4) respectively. Moreover, reaction of 1 with 2,6-diisopropylphenol in the presence of a base led to the isolation of [(NHC)Zn(μ-OH)(OC6H3-2,6-iPr2)]2 (5). Compounds 2–5 have been fully characterized by spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In this paper, we have discussed the synthesis, structural characterizations of 2–5 and the mechanism for the formation of compounds 3–5 from 2.