N,O versus O,O coordination in β-imino diketonato complexes: Role of the metal center and of the imino substituent

β-Imino carbonyl enolato metal(II) complexes of the general formula [M((RCO)(R′CO)CC(R″)NH)2] are easily synthesized by the reaction of metal(II) acetates with the proper β-enaminodiones. The type of coordination depends on the substituent at the imino carbon and on the metal center.