Titanium Amino Alcohol Complexes from α-Titanic Acid: X-Ray Crystal Structure of Titanium Bis[2,2´-(methylimino)diethanolate]

Abstract

A method for producing amino alcohol complexes of titanium from hydrated titania (α-titanic acid) is described. Thus hydrated titania was completely converted into triethanolamine and diethanolamine complexes during reaction at 120°C for 6 h. This represents a synthetic method for titanium sol–gel precursors which are free from chlorine-containing impurities. Products were characterized with assistance from ¹ H and ¹³ C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and electrospray mass spectrometry. A single-crystal X-ray structure of titanium bis[2,2´- (methyl-imino)ethanolate], tetragonal, space group P4 – 2 ₁ c, is presented. The titanium centre is coordinated by an N₂O₄ donor set which can be most closely described as a bifacially capped tetrahedral geometry.