A Well-Defined Hydrocarbon-Soluble Calcium Hydroxide:  Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity

Controlled hydrolysis of a (β-diketiminate)calcium-amide gave a heteroleptic (β-diketiminate)calcium-hydroxide complex that is remarkably stable against ligand exchange and formation of Ca(OH)₂. The structure of this dimeric complex shows OH^- units that symmetrically bridge the Ca²⁺ ions. This hydrocarbon-soluble calcium hydroxide reacted rapidly with CO₂ to produce a gel from which amorphous CaCO₃ slowly separated. This reaction behavior allows for sol−gel coating with CaCO₃ from an organic solvent. Reaction with benzophenone did not lead to nucleophilic attack of OH^- to the carbonyl but gave a red benzophenone adduct instead.