Organozinc-nitrogen compounds

Self-assembly via zinc-nitrogen bonds occurs in numerous compounds containing this pair. Dimeric [MeZnNPh2]2, 20 [38], and [EtZnNPh2]2 [39] have been known for a long time. 

More recently chelate derivatives of iminoalcohols were found to be dimeric with planar Zh2N2 four-membered rings [EtZnOC(NEt2)CH2NBu ]2, 21, has been investigated by X-ray diffraction [40]. 

Trimeric [EtZnNHCioH7 THF]3, 22, derived from 1-naphthylamine and containing four-coordinate zinc by addition of THE, came as a surprise, in view of the 

Several tetranuclear aggregates have been reported. For example, a tetranuclear zinc-nitrogen cage is present in Et2Zn4(NPhOOCMe)6-2C6H6 [42]. 

Mixed zinc-nitrogen and zinc-oxygen self-assembled species are also known. Thus, methylzinc acetoximate, which is tetrameric in benzene solution, maintains this aggregation state in the crystal and the molecular structure is based upon a cage made up of five-membered Zu202N rings [43]. 

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Only for a few organozinc compounds, in which in addition to the zinc-carbon bond a zinc-heteroatom bond other than oxygen or nitrogen is present, have structures in the solid state been determined. These structures include those of organozinc compounds in which, in addition to the zinc-carbon bond, a zinc-sulfur, zinc-selenium, zinc-phosphorus or zinc-arsenic bond is present. 

Organozinc Compounds Containing a Zinc-Nitrogen Bond... 

Table 11 Average bond lengths for some structurally characterized organozinc compounds containing a zinc-nitrogen bond...

Organozinc compounds have been found by X-ray diffraction studies to form primarily the tetrahedral structure of four-coordination stabilized by the coordination of lone pair electrons of nitrogen or oxygen as shown in Figure 5.1 [21-28]. 

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