Abstract
Zinc benzoates may provide an element of tunability that is not available to their ubiquitous acetate analogues. Unfortunately, the synthesis, speciation, and coordination chemistry of zinc benzoates are less developed than the acetates. In this study, we systematically investigate zinc benzoates to understand their propensity to favor solvate (Zn(O(2)CAr)(2)(L)(2)) or cluster (Zn(4)O(O(2)CAr)(6)) formation as well as their utility as metal complex precursors. The zinc benzoates were found to be Lewis acid catalysts comparable to their acetate counterparts for the formation of oxazolines from esters and amino alcohols.