Structural transformations in dinuclear zinc complexes involving Zn-Zn bonds

Abstract

Reduction of Zn-2(mu-eta(2)- Me2Si( NDipp)(2))(2) with 4 equiv. of KC8 resulted in a dramatic structural transformation into [(eta(2)- Me2Si( NDipp)(2)) ZnZn(eta(2)- Me2Si( NDipp)(2))](2-) featuring a Zn - Zn bond instead of [Zn-2(mu-eta(2)- Me2Si( NDipp)(2))(2)](2-); the mechanism of the observed structural transformations arising from the Zn - Zn bond formation involving the intermediate of [Zn-2(mu-eta(2)- Me2Si( NDipp)(2))(2)](-) was elucidated by elaborate computations.