Unique formation of mono-, tetra- and nona-nuclear zinc complexes from protonolysis reactions of [Zn(dmpzm)Et2].

Protonolysis reactions of [Zn(dmpzm)Et(2)] () with acetic or formic acid in different molar ratios gave rise to four mononuclear zinc complexes [ZnEt(dmpzm)(L)] (: L = OAc : L = HCOO) and [Zn(dmpzm)(L)(2)] (: L = OAc;L = HCOO), one nonanuclear zinc complex [Zn(micro(4)-O)(2)(ZnEt)(6)(micro(3)-OAc)(4)(micro'(3)-OAc)(2){Zn(dmpzm)Et}(2)], and one tetranuclear zinc complex [Zn(4)(micro(4)-O)(dmpzm)(3)Et(3)]. Compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, (1)H NMR spectra, and the crystal structures of , were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In the structures of the central Zn atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by two N atoms of one dmpzm and two C atoms of two Et groups (), or one C atom of one Et group and one O atom of formate ligand, or two O atoms of two acetates. In the structure of , a heptanuclear [Zn(micro(4)-O)(2)(ZnEt)(6)(micro(3)-OAc)(4)] core is connected with two [Zn(dmpzm)Et](+) fragments via a pair of micro'(3)-OAc ligands. Compound consists of a Zn(4)(micro(4)-O) tetrahedron in which three Zn atoms are further saturated by two N atoms from dmpzm ligands and an ethyl group while one Zn center is coordinated by three C atoms from the methylene group of the three dmpzm ligands.