Fluorinated alkoxides. Part XII. Studies on potentially tridentate fluorinated diols; zwitterionic and five-coordinate complexes of Ni2+ and Cu2+
The complexing ability towards Ni2+ and Cu2+ of the potentially tridentate ligands HOC(CF3)2CH2C(O)CH2C(CF3)2OH, HOC(CF3)2CH2CH(OH)CH2C(CF3)2OH, and HOC(CF3)2CH2CH2N:C(CH3)CH2C(CF3)2OH has been studied. The first two act as bidentate ligands, uninegative or dinegative according to the extent of ionization of the fluorinated alcohol groups; when both were ionized, the complexes had a zwitterionic structure. The third ligand was exclusively tridentate in its complexes; this difference is ascribed to its greater flexibility. Both four- and five-coordinate complexes of nickel were observed, the latter being produced either by choice of co-ligands or by solvation, but no six-coordinate complex was formed in this series. Limitations on coordination for the metal are ascribed to steric effects.