Assembly of zinc ions by the new ON2S2 ligand BMIBIP

The new ON2S2 Ligand bis(iminomethyl)-2-6-bis(mercapto-isobutyl)-4-methylph enol (H3BMIBIP) has been synthesized from 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 2 -mercaptoisobutyl-amine. Its reaction with diethylzinc in the presence of a lcohols yields complexes of composition [(BMIBIP)Zn-2(OR)] (R = CH3, C2H5 a nd CH2C6H4CF3). A structure determination of the trifluoromethylbenzylate c ompound has shown it to be a tetranuclear complex consisting of two (BMIBIP )Zn-2 units linked by triply bridging alkoxide Ligands to form a double nor cubane with a Zn4O4S2 framework.