A neutral cubane with a ZnII4O4 core: tetrabenzoatotetrakis(μ3-hydroxydi-2-pyridylmethanolato)tetrazinc(II)–acetone–methanol (1/2/1)

Abstract

In the title compound, [Zn4(C11H9N2O2)4(C7H5O2)4]·2(CH3)2CO·CH3OH, the tetranuclear molecule lies on a fourfold inversion axis. ZnII ions and μ3-O atoms in the cubane core occupy alternating vertices, forming two interpenetrating tetrahedra. Each ZnII ion is further coordinated by two N atoms from two different (py)2C(OH)O ligands (py is pyridyl) and one O atom from a monodentate benzoate ligand, forming a distorted octahedral environment. The (py)2C(OH)O ligand acts in an η1:η3:η1:μ3 manner, forming two five-membered ZnNCCO chelating rings with two different ZnII atoms sharing a common C—O bond, and an alkoxide-type bond to a third ZnII ion. There are four symmetry-related intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds between the two types of ligands. In the asymmetric unit, there is a half-occupancy acetone solvent molecule and a half-occupancy methanol solvent molecule that lies on a twofold rotation axis.