Dinuclear nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes of 2,6-bis[{bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino}methyl]-4-methylphenol

Reaction of the symmetrical proligand H2L with metal(II) acetate and a counteranion to promote crystallisation has given the homodinuclear complexes [Zn2L(OAc)2](BF4)]·2MeOH and [Ni2L(OAc)2](BF4)]·2MeOH the crystal structures of which are reported. These show the presence of a triply bridging (μ-cresolato)bis(μ-carboxylato) dimetal core.