Mono‐, Di‐, Tri‐ and Tetranuclear Rare Earth Complexes Obtained Using a Moderately Bulky Aryloxide Ligand

Redox transmetallation ligand exchange reactions involving a rare earth metal, 2,4,6‐trimethylphenol (HOmes), and a diarylmercurial afford rare earth aryloxo complexes, which are structurally characterized. Both the lanthanoid contraction and the identity of the reaction solvent are found to influence the outcome of the reactions. Using THF in the reaction affords a dinuclear species Ln₂(Omes)₆(thf)₄]?2THF (Ln=La 1 , Nd 2 ) for the lighter rare earth metals, while a mononuclear species Ln(Omes)₃(thf)₃] (Ln=Sm 3 , Tb 5 , Er 6 , Yb 7 , Y 8 ) is obtained for the heavier rare earth elements. Surprisingly, there is no change in metal coordination number between the two structural motifs. A divalent trinuclear linear complex Eu₃(Omes)₆(thf)₆] 4 is obtained for Eu, and features solely bridging aryloxide ligands. Using DME as the reaction solvent affords La(Omes)₃(dme)₂] 9 from the reaction mixture, and Ln₂(Omes)₆(dme)₂]?PhMe (La 10 , Nd 11 ) and Y(Omes)₃(dme)₂] 14 following crystallization of the crude product from toluene. The dinuclear species Eu₂(Omes)₄(dme)₄] 12 contains two unidentate and two chelating DME ligands, and contrasts the linear structure of 4 . Treatment of HOmes and HgPh₂ with Yb metal in DME affords the mixed valent Yb^II/III complex Yb₂(Omes)₅(dme)₂] 13 , which is stabilized by an intramolecular π‐Ph–Yb interaction, and is a rare example of a mixed valent rare earth aryloxide. Treatment of Er metal with HOmes at elevated temperature (solvent free) affords the homoleptic Er₄(Omes)₁₂] 15 , which consists of a tetranuclear array of Er atoms arranged in a ‘herringbone’ fashion; the structure is stabilized by intramolecular π‐Ph–Er interactions. Reaction of La metal with HOmes under similar conditions yields toluene insoluble “La(Omes)₃”, which affords 1 following extraction with THF.