Metal dialkyls and dihydrides

The gas phase structures of the dimethylderivatives M(CH3)2, M = Be, Zn, Cd or Hg and of bis(neo-pentyl)magnesium have been determined by gas electron diffraction. All have valence angles of 180 at the metal atom. The dialkyl derivatives of the Group 12 metals are volatile liquids and are believed to be monomeric in the crystalline phase. Dimethylberyl-lium and bis(neo-pentyl)-magnesium are solid at room temperature. The crystal structure of dimethylberyllium will be discussed in Chapter 12. 

The M-C and M-H bond distances in the gaseous MR2 or MH2 monomers are listed in Table 10.4. This table also includes the M-H bond distances in the gaseous radicals.MH. The M-Cl bond distances of the gaseous dichlorides of the Group 2 and 12 metals and the 

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