Polyoxometalate-like structure of new potassium triphenylsiloxides: [K6(OSiPh3)6(C3H7OH)-(H2O)•2C6H5CH3 and [K6(OSieh3)6 (H2O)2]

The synthesis and structural characterization of two new potassium triphenyl-siloxides, namely, aqua(propan-2-ol)hexakis(triphenylsilanolato)hexapotassium toluene disolvate, [K-6(C18H15OSi)(6)(C3H8O)(H2O)]center dot 2C(7)H(8), and diaquahexakis-(triphenylsilanolato)hexapotassium, [K-6(C18H15OSi)(6)(H2O)(2)], are reported. Both compounds crystallize in the triclinic space group P (1) over bar. The structure in each case resembles an alkali metal polyoxometalate-like structure, in which electrostatic interactions are observed in the metal-oxygen core. Furthermore, both compounds also resemble a reverse micelles-like architecture, in which the hydrophilic core is enclosed in a hydrophobic shell. The cores of the complexes are flanked by hydrophobic aromatic rings derived from Ph3SiO- anions, where intramolecular pi-interactions between the aromatic rings and potassium cations stabilize the cores of the crystals. Moreover, in both structures, the presence of hydrogen bonds is observed; until now, no crystal structures have been described containing K atoms and triphenylsiloxide molecules in which the presence of hydrogen bonds was confirmed. Thus, these coordination entities could be considered as attractive reagents for further synthetic protocols towards heterometallic complexes.

Automated summary

The structures of two new potassium triphenyl-siloxides resemble alkali metal polyoxometalates and have a reverse micelle-like architecture, with hydrogen bonds present. Intramolecular pi-interactions between hydrophobic aromatic rings derived from Ph3SiO- anions and potassium cations stabilize the cores of the crystals.