Coordination Complexes of Zinc with Reactive ESiMe₃ (E = S, Se, Te) Ligands

The complexes (N,N‘-tmeda)Zn(ESiMe₃)₂ (E = S, 1a; E = Se, 2a; E = Te, 3a) and (3,5-Me₂-C₅H₃N)₂Zn(ESiMe₃)₂ (E = S, 1b; E = Se, 2b; E = Te, 3b) have been prepared in high yield by the reaction of E(SiMe₃)₂ with (N,N‘-tmeda)Zn(OAc)₂ (4a) and (3,5-Me₂-C₅H₃N)₂Zn(OAc)₂ (4b), respectively. Complexes 1−3 have been characterized spectroscopically and by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All six complexes exist in the solid state as monomeric species with terminally bonded trimethylsilylchalcogenolate moieties and a distorted tetrahedral geometry of the zinc center.