Volatility, High Thermal Stability, and Low Melting Points in Heavier Alkaline Earth Metal Complexes Containing Tris(pyrazolyl)borate Ligands

Treatment of MI(2) (M = Ca, Sr) or BaI(2)(THF)(3) with 2 equiv of potassium tris(3,5-diethylpyrazolyl)borate (KTp(Et2)) or potassium tris(3,5-di-n-propylpyrazolyl)borate (KTp(nPr2)) in hexane at ambient temperature afforded CaTp(Et2)(2) (64%), SrTp(Et2)(2) (64%), BaTp(Et2)(2) (67%), CaTp(nPr2)(2) (51%), SrTp(nPr2)(2) (75%), and BaTp(nPr2)(2) (39%). Crystal structure determinations of CaTp(Et2)(2), SrTp(Et2)(2), and BaTp(Et2)(2) revealed monomeric structures. X-ray structural determinations for strontium tris(pyrazolyl)borate (SrTp(2)) and barium tris(pyrazolyl)borate ([BaTp(2)](2)) show that SrTp(2) exists as a monomer and [BaTp(2)](2) exists as a dimer containing two bridging Tp ligands. The thermogravimetric analysis traces, preparative sublimations, and melting point/decomposition determinations demonstrate generally very high thermal stabilities and reasonable volatilities. SrTp(2) has the highest volatility with a sublimation temperature of 200 degrees C/0.05 Torr. [BaTp(2)](2) is the least thermally stable with a decomposition temperature of 330 degrees C and a percent residue of 46.5% at 450 degrees C in the thermogravimetric analysis trace. SrTp(Et2)(2), BaTp(Et2)(2), CaTp(nPr2)(2), SrTp(nPr2)(2), and BaTp(nPr2)(2) vaporize as liquids between 210 and 240 degrees C at 0.05 Torr. BaTp(Et2)(2) and BaTp(nPr2)(2) decompose at about 375 degrees C, whereas MTp(Et2)(2) and MTp(nPr2)(2) (M = Ca, Sr) are stable to >400 degrees C. Several of these new complexes represent promising precursors for chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition film growth techniques.