Probing secondary coordination sphere influence on the oxygenation of zinc alkyls: formation of a unique zinc peroxide species.

Reactions of ethylzinc derivatives of o-hydroxybiphenyl with O2 were investigated. The study revealed an essential role in the oxygenation process of intra-molecular interactions involving aromatic rings and provided a unique aryloxide (hydroxide) Zn8(OAr)8(OH)6(O2) cluster with an encapsulated peroxide species.