An incomplete cube-like array of Cu, Zn, I with O atoms from 2-dimethylaminoethanol formed directly from zero-valent metal powders

The new heterotrinuclear complex [Cu2Zn(NH3)I3(Me2Ea)3] was prepared for the first time from copper and zinc powders, ammonium iodide and 2-dimethylaminoethanol (HMe2Ea) in methanol in air. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals the asymmetric Cu2ZnO3I core with the structure that can be described as a distorted cube missing one corner. The μ-alkoxo- and μ-iodo-bridging between metal centres results in copper–copper and two copper–zinc separations being 3.353(2), 3.197(2) and 3.225(2) Å, respectively.