Synthesis and crystal structures of (C8h8)Nd(C5H9C5H4) (THF)2 and [(C8H8)Gd(C5H9C4H4(THF)][(C8H8)GD(C5H9C5H4(THF)2]

LnCl₃ (Ln=Nd, Gd) reacts with C₅H₉C₅H₄Na (or K₂C₈H₈) in THF (C₅H₉C₅H₄ = cyclopentylcyclopentadienyl) in the ratio of 1 : to give (C₅H₉C₅H₄)LnCl₂(THF)_n (orC₈H₈)LnCl₂(THF)_n], which further reacts with K₂C₈H₈ (or C₅H₉C₅H₄Na) in THF to form the litle complexes. If Ln=Nd the complex (C₈H₈)Nd(C₅H₉C₅H₄)(THF)₂ (a) was obtained: when Ln=Gd the 1 : 1 complex (C₈H₈)Gd(C_%H₉)(THF)](C₈H₈)Gd(C₅H₉H₄)(THF)₂] (b) was obtained in crystalline form.

The crystal structure analysis shows that in (C₈H₈)Ln(C₅H₉C₅H₄)(THF)₂ (Ln=Nd or Gd), the Cyclopentylcyclopentadieny (η⁵), cyclooctatetraenyl (η⁸) and two oxygen atoms from THF are coordinated to Nd³⁺ (or Gd³⁺) with coordination number 10.

The centroid of the cyclopentadienyl ring (Cp′) in C₅H₉C₅H₄ group, cyclooctatetraenyl centroid (COTL) and two oxygens (THF) form a twisted tetrahedron around Nd³⁺ (or Gd³⁺). In (C₈H₈)Gd(C₅H₉C₅H₄)(THF), the cyclopentyl-cyclopentadienyl (η⁵), cyclooctatetraenyl (η⁸) and one oxygen atom are coordinated to Gd³⁺ with the coordination number of 9 and Cp′, COT and oxygen atom form a triangular plane around Gd³⁺, which is almost in the plane (dev. -0.0144 Å).