The synthesis and characterization of the group IIA homoleptic aryloxides under mild conditions, [M(OAr′)2]2, and the adducts [M(OAr′)2(L)x]·L (M = Ca, Sr, Ba; Ar′= 2,4,6,-tri-t-butyl-phenol; L THF, x = 3; M = Ba; L = DME, x = 2; and L = HMPA, x =

The homoleptic group IIA phenoxides, [M(OAr′)2]2 (M = Ca, Sr and Ba), have been synthesized by the reaction of the bulk metal and 2,4,6,-tri-t-butyl-phenol in a mixed ammonia-toluene solution at −40°C. Ammonia adducts are initially obtained, [M(OAr′)2(NH3)x]n, which may be readily converted to the homoleptic dimers by the toluene reflux method. The dimeric complexes [M(OAr′)2]2 react with a range of Lewis bases to yield the monomeric adducts [M(OAr′)2(L)x]· L. All complexes have been characterized by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, solution cryoscopy (in selected cases) and microanalysis. The X-ray structure of [Sr(OAr′)2(THF)3]· (THF) reveals that it has a monomeric distorted trigonal bipyramidal structure with two THF ligands in apical positions, while the fourth THF molecule is present as a hemi-solvate.