Synthesis and molecular structures of lanthanocene amide complexes and their catalytic activity for addition of amines to nitriles

Reaction of (CH₃C₅H₄)₂LnCl(THF) with NaNHAr in a 1:1 molar ratio in THF afforded the amide complexes (CH₃C₅H₄)₂LnNHAr(THF) (Ar = 2,6-Me₂C₆H_3, Ln = Yb (I), Y (III); Ar = 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃, Ln = Yb (II)]. X-ray crystal structure determination revealed that complexes I-III are isostructural. The central metal in each complex coordinated to two methylcyclopentadienyl groups, one amide group and one oxygen atom from THF to form a distorted tetrahedron. Complexes I-III and a known complex (CH₃C₅H₄)₂YbNⁱPr₂(THF) IV all can serve as the catalysts for addition of amines to nitriles to monosubstituted N-arylamidines. The activity depended on the central metals and amide groups, and the active sequence follows the trend IV ≈ III < I < II.