Synthesis and crystal structure of tetrakis(1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedionato) zirconium(IV)
M Steyn, HG Visser, A Roodt

The coordination compound tetrakis(1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanediona to)zirconium(IV), [Zr(DBM)4], (DBM = dibenzoyl methane/1,3- diphenyl-1,3-propanedionol) was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [Zr(DBM)4] crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c (a = 24.769(4) A, b = 10.216(5) A, c = 19.314(4) A, and �� = 101.541(5)��). The coordination geometry around the zirconium atom, formed by the eight O-donating atoms of the four ��-diketonates, is found to be a near-perfect square antiprism. Crystal packing is stabilized by C.H...�� interactions throughout the crystal lattice. This structure is a noteworthy example of the application of ambient condition synthesis of zirconium compounds in N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) as reaction and crystallization solvent, highlighting the possibilities of aerobic condition metal purification through chelation.
Keywords zirconium, ��-diketone, square-antiprismatic coordination polyhedron.