Dibenzylstrontium and -barium: Simple Molecules with Complex Structures

The reactions between two equivalents of PhCH2K and AeI2 (Ae = Ca, Sr, Ba) in THF give the alkaline earth metal benzyls [(PhCH2)2­Ca­(THF)4] (3), [(PhCH2)4­Sr2(THF)3] (4), and [(PhCH2)6­Ba3(THF)4] (5), as orange, crystalline solids in good yield. While 3 crystallizes as a molecular species, compound 4 crystallizes as a ribbon polymer and 5 crystallizes as a 2-dimensional sheet in which the metal ions are coordinated by either benzyl and THF molecules or benzyl ligands alone.