Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of diamagnetic tetracoordinated chromium (II) complexes supported by α-diimine ligands

Abstract The α-diimine ligands Ar N C(R) C(R) N Ar ( ai, bi, c ) react with CrCl 3 (thf) 3 1 in the presence of zinc to give new diamagnetic tetrahedral chromium (II) complexes supported by α-diimine ligands 2ai ( i  = 1–2), 2bi ( i  = 1–2) and 2c in good yields. All compounds were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The solid-state structure of 2b2 , which crystallized in the Orthorhombic space group P2 1 2 1 2 1 with unit cell parameters a  = 11.825(5) A, b  = 12.034(4) A and c  = 16.393(8) A, was established by X-ray crystallography.