Coordination complexes of zinc with reactive ESiMe3 (E = S, Se, Te) ligands

The complexes (N,N'-tmeda)Zn(ESiMe3)(2) (E = S, 1a; E = So, 2a; E = Te, 3a) and (3,5-Me-2-C5H3N)(2)Zn(ESiMe3)(2) (E = S, 1b; E = Se, 2b; E = Te, 3b) have been prepared in high yield by the reaction of E(SiMe3)(2) with (N,N'-tmeda)Zn(OAc)(2) (4a) and (3,5-Me-2-C5H3N)(2)Zn(OAc)(2) (4b), respectively. Complexes 1-3 have been characterized spectroscopically and by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All six complexes exist in the solid state as monomeric species with terminally bonded trimethylsilylchalcogenolate moieties and a distorted tetrahedral geometry of the zinc center.