Complexes of CaII with the tris[(2-dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]methoxide ligand

The reaction of equimolar amounts of tris[(2-dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]methanol (2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₃COH (1)) with [Ca{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂(THF)₂] in toluene at 23 °C gave the mixed-ligand calcium alkoxyamide complex [Ca{(2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₃CO}{N(SiMe₃)₂}-(THF)] (2). When attempting to synthesize the corresponding alkoxy hydride complex by the reaction of 2 with PhSiH₃, the bis(alkoxide) complex [κ-O,N,N-(2-Me₂NCH₂-C₆H₄)₃CO}₂Ca] (3) and CaH₂ were isolated from the reaction mixture as a result of symmetrization of the intermediate calcium alkoxy hydride. The structures of complexes 2 and 3 were determined by X-ray diffraction. Complex 3 has a nearly linear structure, only three NMe₂ moieties of both ligands being involved in the coordination to the metal ion.