Divalent Ytterbium Iodide Supported by β‐Diketiminato Based Tridentate Ligand: Synthesis,Structure and Small Molecule Activation†

Divalent ytterbium iodide [LYb(μ‐I)(THF)]₂ ( 1 ; L = [MeC(NDIPP)CHC(Me)NCH₂CH₂NMe₂]^?, DIPP = 2,6‐(ⁱPr)₂C₆H₃) was synthesized and its reactivity was studied. Complex 1 was synthesized by salt metathesis of YbI₂(THF)₂ with the potassium salt of ligand (KL) in high yield. In the reactions with trimethylsilyl azide, azobenzene, sulfur and diphenyl disulfide, complex 1 acts as a 2e reductant. In the reaction with CO₂, the central carbon atom of β‐diketiminato backbone in 1 nucleophilically attacks the CO₂ molecule to give a divalent ytterbium carboxylate.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Catalytic Behavior of Ytterbium Complexes Derived from a Linked Bis(β‐ketoiminato) Ligand

Ytterbium complexes supported by a linked bis(β‐ketoiminato) ligand, N,N′‐ethylenebis(benzoylacetoimine) (H₂L), were synthesized and their catalytic behavior was explored. The reaction of YbCl₃ with 1 equiv. of LLi₂ afforded the mononuclear ytterbium chloride LYbCl(THF)₂ ( 1 ) in high yield. Complex 1 can be used as starting material to prepare β‐ketoiminate‐ytterbium derivatives. Treatment of complex 1 with NaN(SiMe₃)₂ produced the dimeric ytterbium amide {LYb[N(SiMe₃)₂]}₂ ( 2 ), while the similar reaction of complex 1 with NaOAr (ArO = 2, 6‐tBu‐4‐MeC₆H₂O) led to the mononuclear ytterbium aryloxide LYbOAr(THF) ( 3 ). The three complexes were well detected by elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. It was found that complexes 2 and 3 can initiate the ring‐opening polymerization of ?‐caprolactone with moderate activity.     

Bis(β‐diketiminato) lanthanide amides: synthesis,structure and catalysis for the polymerization of l‐lactide and ε‐caprolactone

Treatment of the chlorides (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph)₂LnCl (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph = [(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)CHC(Me)N(C₆H₅)]^?) with 1 equiv. of NaNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) afforded the monoamides (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph)₂LnNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (Ln = Y ( 1 ), Yb ( 2 )) in good yields. Anhydrous LnCl₃ reacted with 2 equiv. of NaL^2,6‐iPr2_Ph in THF, followed by treatment with 1 equiv. of NaNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃), giving the analogues (L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph)₂LnNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (Ln = Sm ( 3 ), Nd ( 4 )). Two monoamido complexes stabilized by two L^2‐Me ligands, (L^2‐Me)₂LnNH(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) (L^2‐Me = [N(2‐MeC₆H₄)C(Me)]₂CH)^?; Ln = Y ( 5 ), Yb ( 6 )), were also synthesized by the latter route. Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 were fully characterized, including X‐ray crystal structure analyses. Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 are isostructural. The central metal in each complex is ligated by two β‐diketiminato ligands and one amido group in a distorted trigonal bipyramid. All the complexes were found to be highly active in the ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide (L‐LA) and ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) to give polymers with relatively narrow molar mass distributions. The activity depends on both the central metal and the ligand (Yb < Y < Sm ≈ Nd and L^2‐Me < L^2,6‐iPr2_Ph). Remarkably, the binary 3/benzyl alcohol (BnOH) system exhibited a striking ‘immortal’ nature and proved able to quantitatively convert 5000 equiv. of L‐LA with up to 100 equiv. of BnOH per metal initiator. All the resulting PLAs showed monomodal, narrow distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.06 ? 1.08), with molar mass (M_n) decreasing proportionally with an increasing amount of BnOH. The binary 4/BnOH system also exhibited an ‘immortal’ nature in the polymerization of ε‐CL in toluene. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Super‐Bulky Penta‐arylcyclopentadienyl Ligands: Isolation of the Full Range of Half‐Sandwich Heavy Alkaline‐Earth Metal Hydrides

Hydrogenolysis of the half‐sandwich penta‐arylcyclopentadienyl‐supported heavy alkaline‐earth‐metal alkyl complexes (Cp^Ar)Ae[CH(SiMe₃)₂](S) (Cp^Ar=C₅Ar₅, Ar=3,5‐ⁱPr₂‐C₆H_3; S=THF or DABCO) in hexane afforded the calcium, strontium, and barium metal–hydride complexes as the same dimers [(Cp^Ar)Ae(μ‐H)(S)]₂ (Ae=Ca, S=THF, 2‐Ca ; Ae=Sr, Ba, S=DABCO, 4‐Ae ), which were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. 2‐Ca , 4‐Sr , and 4‐Ba catalyzed alkene hydrogenation under mild conditions (30 °C, 6 atm, 5 mol % cat.), with the activity increasing with the metal size. A variety of activated alkenes including tri‐ and tetra‐substituted olefins, semi‐activated alkene (Me₃SiCH=CH₂), and unactivated terminal alkene (1‐hexene) were evaluated.     

Synthese,Struktur und Reaktivität von Tris‐, Bis‐ und Mono(2,4‐dimethylpentadienyl)‐Komplexen des Neodyms,Lanthans und des Yttriums

The tris(2,4‐dimethylpentadienyl) complexes [Ln(η⁵‐Me₂C₅H₅)₃] (Ln = Nd, La, Y) are obtained analytically pure by reaction of the tribromides LnBr₃·nTHF with the potassium compound K(Me₂C₅H₅)(thf)_n in THF in good yields. The structural characterization is carried out by X‐ray crystal structure analysis and NMR‐spectroscopically. The tris complexes can be transformed into the dimeric bis(2,4‐dimethylpentadienyl) complexes [Ln₂(η⁵‐Me₂C₅H₅)₄X₂] (Ln, X: Nd, Cl, Br, I; La, Br, I; Y, Br) by reaction with the trihalides THF solvates in the molar ratio 2:1 in toluene. Structure and bonding conditions are determined for selected compounds by X‐ray crystal structure analysis and NMR‐spectroscopically in general. The dimer‐monomer equilibrium existing in solution was investigated NMR‐spectroscopically in dependence of the donor strength of the solvent and could be established also by preparation of the corresponding monomer neutral ligand complexes [Ln(η⁵‐Me₂C₅H₅)₂X(L)] (Ln, X, L: Nd, Br, py; La, Cl, thf; Br, py; Y, Br, thf). Finally the possibilities for preparation of mono(2,4‐dimethylpentadienyl)lanthanoid(III)‐dibromid complexes are shown and the hexameric structure of the lanthanum complex [La₆(η⁵‐Me₂C₅H₅)₆Br₁₂(thf)₄] is proved by X‐ray crystal structure analysis.     

Y,Lu, and Gd Complexes of NCO/NCS Pincer Ligands: Synthesis,Characterization, and Catalysis in the cis‐1,4‐Selective Polymerization of Isoprene

A series of NCO/NCS pincer precursors, 3‐(Ar²OCH₂)‐2‐Br‐(Ar¹N?CH)C₆H₃ ((^Ar1NCO^Ar2)Br, 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d ) and 3‐(2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃SCH₂)‐2‐Br‐(Ar¹N?CH)C₆H₃ ((^Ar1NCS^Me)Br, 4a and 4b ) were synthesized and characterized. The reactions of [^Ar1NCO^Ar2]Br/ [^Ar1NCS^Me]Br with nBuLi and the subsequent addition of the rare‐earth‐metal chlorides afforded their corresponding rare‐earth‐metal–pincer complexes, that is, [(^Ar1NCO^Ar2)YCl₂(thf)₂] ( 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d ), [(^Ar1NCO^Ar2)LuCl₂(thf)₂] ( 6a , 6d ), [(^Ar1NCO^Ar2)GdCl₂(thf)₂] ( 7 ), [{(^Ar1NCS^Me)Y(μ‐Cl)}₂{(μ‐Cl)Li(thf)₂(μ‐Cl)}₂] ( 8 , 9 ), and [{(^Ar1NCS^Me)Gd(μ‐Cl)}₂{(μ‐Cl)Li(thf)₂(μ‐Cl)}₂] ( 10 , 11 ). These diamagnetic complexes were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and the molecular structures of compounds 5a , 6a , 7 , and 10 were well‐established by X‐ray diffraction analysis. In compounds 5a , 6a , and 7 , all of the metal centers adopted distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometries with the NCO donors and two oxygen atoms from the coordinated THF molecules in equatorial positions and the two chlorine atoms in apical positions. Complex 10 is a dimer in which the two equal moieties are linked by two chlorine atoms and two Cl? Li? Cl bridges. In each part, the gadolinium atom adopts a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. Activated with alkylaluminum and borate, the gadolinium and yttrium complexes showed various activities towards the polymerization of isoprene, thereby affording highly cis‐1,4‐selective polyisoprene, whilst the NCO? lutetium complexes were inert under the same conditions.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Sodium and Calcium ­Complexes with the Ligand N‐(2,6‐Dimethylphenyl)diphenylphosphinic Amide

The sodium complex [{Ph₂P(O)NH(2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃)}Na{Ph₂P(O)N(2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃)}]₂ ( 2 ) with the ligand N‐(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)diphenylphosphinic amide was synthesized involving the reaction of the neutral ligand [Ph₂P(O)NH(2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃)] ( 1 ) and sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in toluene at 60 °C. The calcium complex [{Ph₂P(O)NH(2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃)CaI(THF)₃}I] ( 3 ) was obtained by the reaction between the neutral ligand 1 and anhydrous calcium diiodide in THF at ambient temperature. The solid‐state structures of the complexes were established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. In the solid‐state structure of 2 , the sodium ion is coordinated through the chelation of oxygen atom attached to the phosphorus atom. Two different P–N and P–O bond lengths are observed, which indicates that one ligand moiety is anionic, whereas the second one is neutral. In the solid‐state structure of 3 , the calcium atom adopts distorted octahedral arrangement through the ligation of two phosphinic amide ligands, three THF molecules, and one iodide ion.     

Bimetallic Rare Earth Alkyl Complexes Bearing Bridged Amidinate Ligands: Synthesis and Activity for L-Lactide Polymerization

Four novel bridged‐amidines H₂L {1,4‐R¹[C(=NR²)(NHR²)]₂ [R¹=C₆H₄, R²=2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ (H₂L¹); R¹=C₆H₄, R²=2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ (H₂L²); R¹=C₆H₁₀, R²=2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ (H₂L³); R¹=C₆H₁₀, R²=2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ (H₂L⁴)]} were synthesized in 65%–78% isolated yields by the condensation reaction of dicarboxylic acid with four equimolar amounts of amines in the presence of PPSE at 180°C. Alkane elimination reaction of Ln(CH₂SiMe₃)₃(THF)₂ (Ln=Y, Lu) with 0.5 equiv. of amidine in THF at room temperature afforded the corresponding bimetallic rare earth alkyl complexes (THF)(Me₃SiCH₂)₂LnL¹Ln(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF) [Ln=Y ( 1 ), Lu ( 2 )], (THF)(Me₃SiCH₂)₂LnL²Ln‐ (CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF) [Ln=Y ( 3 ), Lu ( 4 )], (THF)(Me₃SiCH₂)₂YL³Y(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF) ( 5 ), (THF)(Me₃SiCH₂)₂YL⁴‐ Y(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(THF) ( 6 ) in 72% –80% isolated yields. These neutral complexes showed activity towards L‐lactide polymerization in toluene at 70°C to give high molecular weight (M>10⁴) and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n≦1.40) polymers     

Trapping a Silicon(I) Radical with Carbenes: A Cationic cAAC–Silicon(I) Radical and an NHC–Parent‐Silyliumylidene Cation

The trapping of a silicon(I) radical with N‐heterocyclic carbenes is described. The reaction of the cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene [cAAC_Me] (cAAC_Me=:C(CMe₂)₂(CH₂)NAr, Ar=2,6‐i Pr₂C₆H₃) with H₂SiI₂ in a 3:1 molar ratio in DME afforded a mixture of the separated ion pair [(cAAC_Me)₂Si:^.]⁺I⁻ ( 1 ), which features a cationic cAAC–silicon(I) radical, and [cAAC_Me−H]⁺I⁻. In addition, the reaction of the NHC–iodosilicon(I) dimer [I_Ar(I)Si:]₂ (I_Ar=:C{N(Ar)CH}₂) with 4 equiv of I_Me (:C{N(Me)CMe}₂), which proceeded through the formation of a silicon(I) radical intermediate, afforded [(I_Me)₂SiH]⁺I⁻ ( 2 ) comprising the first NHC–parent‐silyliumylidene cation. Its further reaction with fluorobenzene afforded the C_Ar−H bond activation product [1‐F‐2‐I_Me‐C₆H₄]⁺I⁻ ( 3 ). The isolation of 2 and 3 confirmed the reaction mechanism for the formation of 1 . Compounds 1 – 3 were analyzed by EPR and NMR spectroscopy, DFT calculations, and X‐ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of a “Masked” Terminal Zinc Sulfide and Its Reactivity with Brønsted and Lewis Acids

The “masked” terminal Zn sulfide, [K(2.2.2‐cryptand)][^MeLZn(S)] ( 2 ) (^MeL={(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)}₂CH), was isolated via reaction of [^MeLZnSCPh₃] ( 1 ) with 2.3 equivalents of KC₈ in THF, in the presence of 2.2.2‐cryptand, at ?78 °C. Complex 2 reacts readily with PhCCH and N₂O to form [K(2.2.2‐cryptand)][^MeLZn(SH)(CCPh)] ( 4 ) and [K(2.2.2‐cryptand)][^MeLZn(SNNO)] ( 5 ), respectively, displaying both Brønsted and Lewis basicity. In addition, the electronic structure of 2 was examined computationally and compared with the previously reported Ni congener, [K(2.2.2‐cryptand)][^tBuLNi(S)] (^tBuL={(2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)NC(^tBu)}₂CH).     

Vinyl homo/copolymerization of norbornene and ethylene using sterically enhanced 1,2‐bis(arylimino)acenaphthene–palladium precatalysts

A family of unsymmetrical 1,2‐bis(imino)acenaphthene‐palladium methyl chloride complexes [1‐[2,6‐{(C₆H₅)₂CH}₂‐ 4‐{C(CH₃)₃}‐C₆H₂N]‐2‐(ArN)C₂C₁₀H₆]PdMeCl (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂Ph Pd1 , 2,6‐Et₂Ph Pd2 , 2,6‐ⁱPr₂Ph Pd3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃Ph Pd4 , 2,6‐Et₂‐4‐MePh Pd5 ) have been prepared and fully characterized by ¹H/¹³C NMR, FTIR spectroscopies, and elemental analysis. X‐ray diffraction analysis of Pd2 complex revealed a square planar geometry. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, all the palladium complexes displayed high activities for norbornene (NBE) homo‐polymerization producing insoluble polymer. For the copolymerization of NBE with ethylene, Pd4 complex exhibited good activities with high incorporation of ethylene (up to 59.2–77.4%) and the resultant copolymer showed high molecular weights as maximum as 150.5 kg mol⁻¹. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 922–930     

Synthesis and Structures of ansa‐Titanocene Complexes with Diatomic Bridging Units for Overall Water Splitting

The synthesis of a series of ansa‐titanocene dichlorides [Cp′₂TiCl₂] (Cp′=bridged η⁵‐tetramethylcyclopentadienyl) and the corresponding titanocene bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene complexes [Cp′₂Ti(η²‐Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃)] is described. The ethanediyl‐bridged complexes [C₂H₄(C₅Me₄)₂TiCl₂] ( 2 ‐Cl₂) and [C₂H₄(C₅Me₄)₂Ti(η²‐Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃)] ( 2‐ btmsa; btmsa=η²‐Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃) can be obtained from the hitherto unknown calcocenophane complex [C₂H₄(C₅Me₄)₂Ca(THF)₂] ( 1 ). Furthermore, a heterodiatomic bridging unit containing both, a dimethylsilyl and a methylene group was introduced to yield the ansa‐titanocene dichloride [Me₂SiCH₂(C₅Me₄)₂TiCl₂] ( 3 ‐Cl₂) and the bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene complex [Me₂SiCH₂(C₅Me₄)₂Ti(η²‐Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃)] ( 3 ‐btmsa). Besides, tetramethyldisilyl‐ and dimethylsilyl‐bridged metallocene complexes (structural motif 4 and 5 , respectively) were prepared. All ansa‐titanocene alkyne complexes were reacted with stoichiometric amounts of water; the hydrolysis products were isolated as model complexes for the investigation of the elemental steps of overall water splitting. Compounds 1 , 2 ‐btmsa, 2 ‐(OH)₂, 3 ‐Cl₂, 3 ‐btmsa, 4 ‐(OH)₂, 3 ‐alkenyl and 5 ‐alkenyl were characterised by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Synthesis and Utility of Neptunium(III) Hydrocarbyl Complex

To extend organoactinide chemistry beyond uranium, reported here is the first structurally characterized transuranic hydrocarbyl complex, Np[η⁴‐Me₂NC(H)C₆H₅]₃ ( 1 ), from reaction of NpCl₄(DME)₂ with four equivalents of K[Me₂NC(H)C₆H₅]. Unlike the U^III species, the neptunium analogue can be used to access other Np^III complexes. The reaction of 1 with three equivalents of HE₂C(2,6‐Mes₂‐C₆H₃) (E=O, S) yields [(2,6‐Mes₂‐C₆H₃)CE₂]₃Np(THF)₂, maintaining the trivalent oxidation state.     

Tuning Coordination in s‐Block Carbazol‐9‐yl Complexes

1,3,6,8‐Tetra‐tert‐butylcarbazol‐9‐yl and 1,8‐diaryl‐3,6‐di(tert‐butyl)carbazol‐9‐yl ligands have been utilized in the synthesis of potassium and magnesium complexes. The potassium complexes (1,3,6,8‐tBu₄carb)K(THF)₄ ( 1 ; carb=C₁₂H₄N), [(1,8‐Xyl₂‐3,6‐tBu₂carb)K(THF)]₂ ( 2 ; Xyl=3,5‐Me₂C₆H₃) and (1,8‐Mes₂‐3,6‐tBu₂carb)K(THF)₂ ( 3 ; Mes=2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂) were reacted with MgI₂ to give the Hauser bases 1,3,6,8‐tBu₄carbMgI(THF)₂ ( 4 ) and 1,8‐Ar₂‐3,6‐tBu₂carbMgI(THF) (Ar=Xyl 5 , Ar=Mes 6 ). Structural investigations of the potassium and magnesium derivatives highlight significant differences in the coordination motifs, which depend on the nature of the 1‐ and 8‐substituents: 1,8‐di(tert‐butyl)‐substituted ligands gave π‐type compounds ( 1 and 4 ), in which the carbazolyl ligand acts as a multi‐hapto donor, with the metal cations positioned below the coordination plane in a half‐sandwich conformation, whereas the use of 1,8‐diaryl substituted ligands gave σ‐type complexes ( 2 and 6 ). Space‐filling diagrams and percent buried volume calculations indicated that aryl‐substituted carbazolyl ligands offer a steric cleft better suited to stabilization of low‐coordinate magnesium complexes.     

Tunable Fluorophores Based on 2‐(N‐Arylimino)pyrrolyl Chelates of Diphenylboron: Synthesis,Structure, Photophysical Characterization,and Application in OLEDs

Reactions of 2‐(N‐arylimino)pyrroles (HNC₄H₃C(H)?N‐Ar) with triphenylboron (BPh₃) in boiling toluene afford the respective highly emissive N,N′‐boron chelate complexes, [BPh₂{κ²N,N′‐NC₄H₃C(H)?N‐Ar}] (Ar=C₆H₅ ( 12 ), 2,6‐Me₂‐C₆H₃ ( 13 ), 2,6‐iPr₂‐C₆H₃ ( 14 ), 4‐OMe‐C₆H₄ ( 15 ), 3,4‐Me₂‐C₆H₃ ( 16 ), 4‐F‐C₆H₄ ( 17 ), 4‐NO₂‐C₆H₄ ( 18 ), 4‐CN‐C₆H₄ ( 19 ), 3,4,5‐F₃‐C₆H₂ ( 20 ), and C₆F₅ ( 21 )) in moderate to high yields. The photophysical properties of these new boron complexes largely depend on the substituents present on the aryl rings of their N‐arylimino moieties. The complexes bearing electron‐withdrawing aniline substituents 17 – 20 show more intense (e.g., ?_f=0.71 for Ar=4‐CN‐C₆H₄ ( 19 ) in THF), higher‐energy (blue) fluorescent emission compared to those bearing electron‐donating substituents, for which the emission is redshifted at the expense of lower quantum yields (?_f=0.13 and 0.14 for Ar=4‐OMe‐C₆H₄ ( 15 ) and 3,4‐Me₂‐C₆H₃ ( 16 ), respectively, in THF). The presence of substituents bulkier than a hydrogen atom at the 2,6‐positions of the aryl groups strongly restricts rotation of this moiety towards coplanarity with the iminopyrrolyl ligand framework, inducing a shift in the emission to the violet region (λ_max=410–465 nm) and a significant decrease in quantum yield (?_f=0.005, 0.023, and 0.20 for Ar=2,6‐Me₂‐C₆H₃ ( 13 ), 2,6‐iPr₂‐C₆H₃ ( 14 ), and C₆F₅ ( 21 ), respectively, in THF), even when electron‐withdrawing groups are also present. Density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) calculations have indicated that the excited singlet state has a planar aryliminopyrrolyl ligand, except when prevented by steric hindrance (ortho substituents). Calculated absorption maxima reproduce the experimental values, but the error is higher for the emission wavelengths. Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been fabricated with the new boron complexes, with luminances of the order of 3000 cd m^?2 being achieved for a green‐emitting device.     

Indyllithium and the Indyl Anion [InL]−: Heavy Analogues of N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

Reduction of the indate complex In(NON^Ar)(μ‐Cl)₂Li(OEt₂)₂ (NON^Ar=[O(SiMe₂NAr)₂]^2?; Ar=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) with sodium generates the In^II diindane species [In(NON^Ar)]₂. Further reduction with a mixture of potassium and [2.2.2]crypt affords the In^I N‐heterocyclic indyl anion [In(NON^Ar)]^?, which crystallizes with a non‐contacted [K([2.2.2]crypt)]⁺ cation. The indyl anion can also be isolated as the indyllithium compound In(NON^Ar)(Li{THF}₃), which contains an In?Li bond. Density functional theory calculations show that the HOMO of the indyl anion is a metal‐centred lone pair, and preliminary reactivity studies confirm its nucleophilic behaviour.     

Synthesis,structure, and magnetic properties of a Yb<Superscript>III</Superscript> complex with the iminopyridine radical-anionic ligand

The reaction of equimolar amounts of ytterbocene (C₅Me₄H)₂Yb(THF)₂ and iminopyridine 2,6-Prⁱ₂C₆H₃N=CH(C₅H₄N) accompanied by the one-electron oxidation of the ytterbium ion produced the unique lanthanide complex (C₅Me₄H)₂Yb^III[2,6-Prⁱ₂-C₆H₃NCH(C₅H₄N)]–? with the iminopyridine radical-anionic ligand. The structure of the complex in the crystalline state was established by X-ray diffraction and its magnetic properties were studied in the temperature range of 1.8—300 K.     

Reversible Cleavage/Formation of the Chromium–Chromium Quintuple Bond in the Highly Regioselective Alkyne Cyclotrimerization

Herein we report the employment of the quintuply bonded dichromium amidinates [Cr{κ²‐HC(N‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)(N‐2,6‐R₂C₆H₃)}]₂ (R=iPr ( 1 ), Me ( 7 )) as catalysts to mediate the [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of terminal alkynes giving 1,3,5‐trisubstituted benzenes. During the catalysis, the ultrashort Cr−Cr quintuple bond underwent reversible cleavage/formation, corroborated by the characterization of two inverted arene sandwich dichromium complexes (μ‐η⁶:η⁶‐1,3,5‐(Me₃Si)₃C₆H₃)[Cr{κ²‐HC(N ‐2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)(N ‐2,6‐R₂C₆H₃)}]₂ (R=ⁱPr ( 5 ), Me ( 8 )). In the presence of σ donors, such as THF and 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂CN, the bridging arene 1,3,5‐(Me₃Si)₃C₆H₃ in 5 and 8 was extruded and 1 and 7 were regenerated. Theoretical calculations were employed to disclose the reaction pathways of these highly regioselective [2+2+2] cylcotrimerization reactions of terminal alkynes.     

Synthesis and Characterization of β‐Diketiminate Zinc Complexes

The monomeric β‐diketiminate zinc complex (Mes)NacNacZnMe 1 (MesNacNac = {[2,6‐(2,4,6‐Me₃‐C₆H₂)N(Me)C)]₂CH}) was obtained in almost quantitative yield from the reaction of ZnMe₂ with (Mes)NacNacH. Reaction of 1 with either Me₃NHCl or a solution of HCl in Et₂O yielded (Mes)NacNacZnCl 2 , whereas (Mes)NacNacZnI 3 was obtained from the reaction of 1 with I₂. 1 – 3 were characterized by elemental analyses, mass and multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}) NMR spectroscopy, 3·THF also by single crystal X‐ray analysis.