Crystal structure of bis[tetrakis(tetrahydrofuran-κO)lithium] bis[μ-2,2′,2′′-methanetriyltris(4,6-di-tert-butylphenolato)-κ4O,O′:O′,O′′]dimagnesiate

Abstract

The title ion-association metal complex, [Li(C4H8O)4]2[Mg2(C43H61O3)2], has been synthesized from the tridentate phenolic ligand tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)methane in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The aryloxo magnesiate complex anion is binuclear with each Mg2O4complex unit inversion-related and bridged through the two tridentate chelating phenolate O-donors of the ligand. The complex centres have a distorted tetrahedral stereochemistry [Mg—O range 1.8796 (17)–2.0005 (16) Å] and an Mg...Mg separation of 2.9430 (14) Å]. The LiO4coodination sphere of the cation comprises four THF O-donor atoms and has a slightly distorted tetrahedral conformation [Li—O range 1.899 (5)– 1.953 (5) Å]. In the crystal, a number of stabilizing intra-anion C—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions are present but no inter-species associations are found.