Calcium, Strontium, and Barium Acetylides—New Evidence for Bending in the Structures of Heavy Alkaline Earth Metal Derivatives

An unprecedented ligand bending mode is displayed by the acetylide ligands in the first structurally characterized σ-bound organometallic strontium and barium complexes [M([18]crown-6)(CCSiPh3)2] (M=Sr, Ba). Furthermore, the observed decrease of the angle at the sp-hybridized C atom on descending Group 2 (see structures depicted) affords new information that will lead to a better understanding of the bonding in alkaline earth metal compounds.