Crystal structure of 1,2-bis-[(2-tert-butyl-phen-yl)imino]-ethane.

The whole molecule of the title compound, C22H28N2, (I), is generated by inversion symmetry. The mol-ecule is rather similar to that of 2,3-bis-[(2-tert-butyl-phen-yl)imino]-butane, (II), a di-imine ligand comprising similar structural features [Ferreira et al. (2006 ▶). Acta Cryst. E62, o4282-o4284]. Both ligands crystallize with the -N=C(R)-C(R)=N- group around an inversion centre, in a trans configuration. Comparing the two structures, it may be noted that the independent planar groups in both mol-ecules [the central link, -N=C(R)-C(R)=N-, and the terminal aromatic ring] subtend an angle of 69.6 (1)° in (II) and 49.4 (2)° in (I). Ferreira and co-workers proposed that such angle deviation may be ascribed to the presence of two non-classical intra-molecular hydrogen bonds and steric factors. In fact, in (I), similar non-classical hydrogen bonds are observed, and the larger angular deviation in (II) may be assigned to the presence of methyl groups in the di-imino fragment, which can cause steric hindrance due to the presence of bulky tert-butyl substituents in the aromatic rings. The C=N bond lengths are similar in both compounds and agree with comonly accepted values.

Bis(tetra-n-butylammonium) (a redetermination at 150K) and bis(tetraphenylarsonium) bis(1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolato)zinc(II) (at 300K).

The title compounds are salts of the general form (Q(+))(2)[Zn(dmit)(2)](2-), where dmit corresponds to the ligand (C(3)S(5))(-) present in both and Q(+) to the counter-cations ((n)Bu(4)N)(+) [or C(16)H(36)N(+)] and (Ph(4)As)(+) [or C(24)H(20)As(+)], respectively. In the first case, Zn is in the 4e special positions of space group C2/c and hence the [Zn(dmit)(2)](2-) dianion possesses twofold axial crystallographic symmetry. Including these, there are now 11 known examples of [Zn(dmit)(2)](2-) or its analogues, with O replacing the exocyclic thione S, and [Zn(dmio)(2)](2-) dianions in nine structures with various Q. Comparison of these reveals a remarkable variation in details of the conformation which the dianion may adopt in terms of Zn coordination, equivalence of the Zn-S bond lengths, displacement of Zn from the plane of the ligand and overall dianion shape.