Spectral and Thermal Studies of Rare Earth Complexes With 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoic Acid

The rare earth element 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoates were prepared as solids with the general formula Ln(C₁₀ H₁₁ O₂ )₃ ×n H₂ O, where n =2 for Ln =Y, La–Nd, and n =1 for Ln =Sm–Lu. The IR spectra of the complexes prepared were recorded and their solubilities in water and thermal decomposition in the air were investigated. During heating the hydrated complexes lose all the crystallization water molecules in one (Y, Ce–Lu) or two steps (La) and then the anhydrous complexes decompose either directly to oxides (Y, Ce, Pr, Sm–Lu) or with intermediate formation oxocarbonates Ln₂ O₂ CO₃ (La, Nd). The carboxylate groups in the complexes prepared act probably as mono- and bidentate. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.