Di-tert-butyl phosphate complexes of cobalt(II) and zinc(II) as precursors for ceramic M(PO < inf > 3 < /inf > ) < inf > 2 < /inf > and M < inf > 2 < /inf > P < inf > 2 < /inf > O < inf > 7 < /inf > materials: Synthesis, spectral characterization, structural studies, and role of auxiliary ligands

Abstract

Reaction of the metal acetates M(OAc)2·xH2O with di-tert-butyl phosphate (dtbp-H) (3) in a 4:6 molar ratio in methanol or tetrahydrofuran followed by slow evaporation of the solvent results in the formation of metal phosphate clusters [M4(μ4-O)(dtbp)6] (M = Co (4, blue); Zn (5, colorless)) in nearly quantitative yields. The same reaction, when carried out in the presence of a donor auxiliary ligand such as imidazole (imz) and ethylenediamine (en), results in the formation of octahedral complexes [M(dtbp)2(imz)4] (M = Co (6); Ni (7); Zn (8)) and [Co(dtbp)2(en)2] (9). The tetrameric clusters 4 and 5 could also be converted into mononuclear 6 and 8, respectively, by treating them with a large excess of imidazole. The use of slightly bulkier auxiliary ligand 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (3,5-dmp) in the reaction between cobalt acetate and 3 results in the isolation of mononuclear tetrahedral complex [Co(dtbp)2(3,5-dmp)2] (10) in nearly quantitative yields. Perfectly air- and moisture-stable samples of 4-10 were characterized with the aid of analytical, thermoanalytical, and spectroscopic techniques. The molecular structures of the monomeric pale-pink compound 6, colorless 8, and deep-blue 10 were further established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Crystal data for 6: C28H52CoN8O8P2, a = 8.525(1) Å, b = 9.331(3) Å, c = 12.697(2) Å α = 86.40(2)°, β = 88.12(3)°, γ = 67.12(1)°, triclinic, P1̄, Z = 1. Crystal data for 8: C28H52N8O8P2Zn, a = 8.488(1) Å, b = 9.333(1) Å. c = 12.723(2) Å, Α = 86.55(1)°, β = 88.04(1)°, β = 67.42(1)°, triclinic, P1̄, Z = 1. Crystal data for 10: C26H52N4O8 P2, a = b = 18.114(1) Å, c= 10.862(1) Å, tetragonal, P41 Z = 4. The Co2+ion in 6 is octahedrally coordinated by four imidazole nitrogens which occupy the equatorial position and oxygens of two phosphate anions on the axial coordination sites. The zinc derivative 8 is isostructural to the cobalt derivative 6. The crystal structure of 10 reveals that the central cobalt atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by two phosphate and two 3,5-dmp ligands. In all structurally characterized monemeric compounds (6, 8, and 10). the dtbp ligand acts as a monodentate, terminal ligand with free P=O phosphoryl groups. Thermal studies indicate that heating the samples at 171 (for 4) or 93 °C (for 5) leads to the loss of twelve equivalents of isobutene gas yielding carbon-free [M4(μ4-O)(O2P (OH)2)6], which undergoes further condensation by water elimination to yield a material of the composition Co4O19P6. This sample of 4 when heated above 500 °C contains the crystalline metaphosphate Co(PO3)2 along with amorphous pyrophosphate M2 in a 2:1 ratio. Similar heat treatment on samples 6-8 results in the exclusive formation of the respective metaphosphate Co(PO3)2 Ni(PO3)2, and Zn(PO3)2; the tetrahedral derivative 10 also cleanly converts into Co(PO3)2 on heating above 600 °C.