Pyrimidinato

Pyrimidinato is the anionic form of pyrimidine used as a ligand in coordination chemistry. The term describes the pyrimidine molecule after deprotonation or otherwise converted to an anionic form that can bind to metal centers. It is employed in both inorganic and organometallic chemistry to build complexes and materials.

The pyrimidine ring contains two ring nitrogens at positions 1 and 3. In the pyrimidinato form the negative charge is delocalized over the ring, enabling coordination to metals through the ring nitrogens. Depending on substitution, the ligand can be mono- or polydentate and may bridge multiple metal centers, resulting in discrete molecules or extended networks.

Synthesis typically involves deprotonation of pyrimidine under basic conditions in the presence of a metal precursor, or generation in situ during complex formation. The resulting ligands are common in transition-metal and lanthanide complexes and are also used to construct coordination polymers and metal–organic frameworks.

The pyrimidinato motif offers predictable binding and tunable electronics via substitution on the ring. Its use helps modulate metal centers' reactivity, catalytic activity, and magnetic properties, contributing to studies of electronic structure and to the design of functional materials.