Ethylenediamine complexes of the beryllium halides and pseudo-halides

The suitability of ethylenediamine (en) as an alternative solvent to liquid ammonia in beryllium chemistry was evaluated. Therefore, BeF2, BeCl2, BeBr2, BeI2, [Be(NH3)4](N3)2, [Be(NH3)4](CN)2 and [Be(NH3)4](SCN)2 were reacted with ethylenediamine and analysed via NMR and IR spectroscopy. Additionally single crystal structures of [BeF2(en)]n, [Be(en)3]Cl2, [Be(en)3]Br2, [Be(en)2]I2·en, [Be(en)2](N3)2·en, [Be(en)2]4(SCN)7Cl and [Be3(OH)3(en)3][C2H9N2](SCN)4 were obtained. The anions were found to have a distinct influence on the solubility as well as on the species present in solution and the solid state, while ethylenediamine can act as mono- and bidentate ligand or as a crystal solvent.