Diglyme or di(2-methoxyethyl) ether is a polyether with the molecular formula C6H14O3. Since diglyme contains three O-donor atoms, we assumed that the most common coordination is the tridentate chelate. After reviewing Cambridge Structural Database (CSD, version 5.41), we verified our assumption. The diglyme molecule is flexible due to the rotation of the single bonds. Therefore, fac and mer isomers form in octahedral complexes, which was demonstrated in the described complex compounds. The structures of the coordination compounds in CSD show that diglyme can coordinate as a tridentate chelating ligand, besides it can coordinate in other ways, as a monodentate, bidentate chelating ligand and as a bridging ligand. We have described the synthesis conditions that allow different coordination modes of the diglyme molecule to complex transition elements and metals.
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