Lone pair activity in lead(II) compounds. X-ray structure of the dimeric complex [(trenMe6)Pb(O2CCH3)]2(BPh4)2, trenMe6=N(CH2CH2N(CH3)2)3

The reaction of the tetradentate tripod-like ligand N(CH2CH2NMe2)3 (trenMe6) with Pb(CH3COO)2·3H2O in presence of Na(BPh4) allows the formation of the complex [(trenMe6)Pb(O2CCH3)]2(BPh4)2. The complex displays a dimeric structure where each lead metal is linked by one trenMe6 ligand and by three oxygens of two bridging acetate groups in a hepta-coordination. The presence of a void in the angular distribution of the ligands around the metal as well as the values of the PbL distances, with those opposite to the void significantly shorter than the others, are indicative of the presence of a stereochemically active lone pair on Pb(II).