SELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF DIALKOXOGIS(ACETYL ACETONATO)ZIRCONIUM FROM TETRAKIS(ACETYLACETONATO)ZIRCONIUM

Selective preparation of dialkoxobis (acetylacetonato) zirconium from tetrakis (acetylacetonato) zirconium, Zr(acac)4, have been investigate d. In the presence of methanol as an additive, Zr(acac)4 reacted with 2 molar amounts of sodium methoxide in cyclohexane to afford selective ly bis(acetylacetonato) zirconium dimethoxide, (acac)2Zr (OMe)2, in a high yield. However, in the reactions using benzene and tetrahydrofura n as a solvent, (acac)2Zr(OMe)2 and tris(acetylacetonato) zirconium mo nomethoxide were formed as the reaction product. Similar products were also isolated in the reactions using crown ethers as an additive. The ligand exchange reactions between (acac)2Zr(OMe)2 and short-chain alc ohols (C3 and C4) were studied in benzene. The corresponding bis(acety lacetonato) zirconium dialkoxide, (acac)2Zr(OR)2, was produced from th e reactions in high yield.