Synthesis and characterisation of some new zinc carbamate complexes formed by CO2 fixation and their use as precursors for ZnO particles under mild conditions

Herein we report on CO2 fixation by insertion into the ZnN bonds of the two molecular compounds EtZnN(iPr)(2) and EtZnN(iBU)(2). The tetrameric carbamate complexes [EtZn-(O2CNR2)](4) (R = iPr and iBu) were found to be the products of these reactions. The structures of the complexes were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Thermal decomposition of the carbamate complexes was studied by applying a variety of different analytical techniques. These studies show that the compounds are suitable precursors for nanosized ZnO particles of ca. 10 nm diameter synthesised under mild conditions (< 200 degrees C) with the oxygen atoms originating from the reactant CO2. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008).