Synthesis and structure of a new bulky bis(alkoxide) ligand on a terphenyl platform

A new sterically bulky chelating bis(alkoxide) ligand 3,3′-([1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl]-2,2′′-diyl)bis(2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentan-3-ol), (H2[OO]tBu), was prepared in a two-step process as the dichloromethane monosolvate, C36H50O2·CH2Cl2. The first step is a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction between 2-bromophenylboronic acid and 1,4-diiodobenzene. The resulting 2,2′′-dibromo-1,1′:4′,1′′-terphenyl was reacted with tBuLi and hexamethylacetone to obtain the desired product. The crystal structure of H2[OO]tBu revealed an anti conformation of the [CPh2(OH)] fragments relative to the central phenyl. Furthermore, the hydroxyl groups point away from each other. Likely because of this anti–anti conformation, the attempts to synthesize first-row transition-metal complexes with H2[OO]tBu were not successful.