Reactions of ethylzinc derivatives of o-hydroxybiphenyl with O2 were investigated. The study revealed an essential role in the oxygenation process of intra-molecular interactions involving aromatic rings and provided a unique aryloxide (hydroxide) Zn8(OAr)8(OH)6(O2) cluster with an encapsulated peroxide species.

Alkylzinc alkoxides, [RZnOR']4, have received much attention as efficient precursors of ZnO nanocrystals (NCs), and their "Zn4O4 " heterocubane core has been regarded as a "preorganized ZnO". A comprehensive investigation of the synthesis and characterization of a new family of tert-butyl(tert-butoxy)zinc hydroxides, [(tBu)4 Zn4 (μ3-OtBu)x (μ3-OH)4-x], as model single-source precursors of ZnO NCs is reported. The direct reaction between well-defined [tBuZnOH]6 (16) and [tBuZnOtBu]4 (24) in various molar ratios allows the isolation of new mixed cubane aggregates as crystalline solids in a high yield: [(tBu)4 Zn4 (μ3-OtBu)3 (μ3-OH)] (3), [(tBu)4Zn4 (μ3-OtBu)2 (μ3-OH)2] (4), [(tBu)4 Zn4 (μ3-OtBu)(μ3-OH)3] (5). The resulting products were characterized in solution by (1) H NMR and IR spectroscopy, and in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The thermal transformations of 2-5 were monitored by in situ variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric measurements. The investigation showed that the Zn-OH groups appeared to be a desirable feature for the solid-state synthesis of ZnO NCs that significantly decreased the decomposition temperature of crystalline precursors 3-5.

Ethylzinc derivatives of ortho-hydroxybiphenyl and 2,6-diphenylphenol that bear different nuclearity and dispositions of aromatic rings toward the metal center were synthesized and structurally characterized in the solid state and solution. This family of well-defined compounds was examined as a model system for the activation of dioxygen mediated by using complexes that feature lack of a redox-active metal center. Experimental and theoretical studies indicate an essential role in the oxygenation process of intramolecular interactions that involve aromatic subunits. Additionally, novel results for the oxygenation chemistry of alkylzinc compounds, including the isolation and structural characterization of the unique octanuclear aryloxide (hydroxide) compound Zn8 (OAr)8 (OH)6 (O2 ) with an encapsulated peroxide species, are presented.

Simple RZnOR’ alkoxides are among the first known organozinc compounds, and widespread interest in their multifaced chemistry has been driven by their fundamental significance and potential applications including various catalytic reactions. Nevertheless, their chemistry in solution and in the solid state remains both relatively poorly understood and a subject of constant debate. Herein, the synthesis and structural characterization of long‐sought structural forms, a roof‐like trimer [(tBuZn)3(μ‐OC(H)Ph2)2(μ3‐OC(H)Ph2)] and a ladder‐type tetramer [(PhZn)4(μ‐OC(H)Ph2)2(μ3‐OC(H)Ph2)2], incorporating diphenylmethanolate as a model alkoxide ligand, are reported. Both novel aggregates are robust in the solid state and resistant towards mechanical force. By using 1H NMR and diffusion‐order spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that new RZnOR’ alkoxides are kinetically labile in solution and readily undergo ligand scrambling, such as in the case of Schlenk equilibrium. The elucidated key structural issues, which have remained undiscovered for decades, significantly advance the chemistry of RZnOR’ alkoxides and should support the rational design of zinc alkoxide‐based applications.

Formation mechanism of ZnO nanocrystals is elucidated using advanced core-level spectroscopic techniques in conjunction with theoretical calculations.