Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity Studies of Bis(β‐diketiminate) Zinc(II) Complexes

Abstract Zinc(II) complexes bearing bis(β‐diketiminate) ligands with various linker groups and terminal substituents have been synthesized by deprotonation of the related bis(β‐diketimine)s with zinc(II) bis[bis(trimethylsilylamide)] and diethyl zinc, respectively. One mononuclear and seven dinuclear zinc(II) complexes could be isolated and fully characterized; their solid‐state structures have been determined by means of single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Oxygenation experiments of selected dinuclear ethyl zinc bis(β‐diketiminate) complexes afforded a series of novel heteroleptic zinc alkoxide, hydroxide, carbonate, and carboxylate complexes. These findings do not only illustrate the complexity of both the oxygenation of organozinc compounds and the transformation pathways of the thus formed compounds but highlight also the impact of the reaction conditions and variations in the ligand framework.