Synthesis, characterization, and steric hindrance comparisons of selected transition and main group metal β-ketoiminato complexes

The coordination preference of the ketoiminato ligand, RN(H)(C(Me))2C(Me)double bond; length as m-dashO, (R = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, (Dipp)), L1, and RN(H)C(Me)CHC(Me)double bond; length as m-dashO, R = C2H4NEt2, L2, have been investigated with a range of d and p block metal halides, (or alkyls), to compare and contrast products obtained from the bulky ketoiminato ligand, L1, versus the less bulky, but multidentate ligand, L2. The products have been characterized by X-ray crystallography along with other spectroscopic techniques and show how the preferred metal geometry remains constant for products with either ligand, but the steric protection offered by the individual ligands governs the nuclearity of the products, affording monomers, dimers and tetramers.