Hexakis(alcohol)zinc complexes

Hexakis(methanol) and hexakis(ethanol) complexes of zinc were prepared unde r strictly anhydrous conditions and crystallized as perchlorate or hexafluo rosilicate salts in space groups of high symmetry. All their OH functions a re engaged in hydrogen-bonded cation-anion networks. Their Zn-O distances c orrespond to those in [Zn(H2O)(6)](2+). Their water sensitivity can be expl ained by a gain in entropy and by a gain in polar interactions upon replace ment of alcohol by water ligands.