Synthesis of Lanthanide–Alkylaluminium Bimetallic Complexes and Studies on Their Catalytic Activities for Polymerization of Some Polar Monomers

Three new lanthanide (Ln)–alkylaluminium (Al) bimetallic complexes with the formula (μ-CF₃CO₂)₂Ln(μ-CF₃CHO₂)AlR₂ · 2THF]₂ (Ln=Nd, Y, R=i-C₄H₉ (i-Bu); Ln=Eu, R=C₂H₅(Et); THF=tetrahydrofuran) were synthesized by the reaction of Ln(CF₃CO₂)₃ (Ln=Nd, Y) with HAl (i-Bu)₂ and of Eu(CF₃CO₂)₃ with AlEt₃, respectively. Their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction at 233 K. (μ-CF₃CO₂)₂Nd (μ-CF₃CHO₂)Al(i-Bu)₂ · 2THF]₂ (Nd–Al) and (μ-CF₃CO₂)₂Y(μ-CF₃CHO₂)Al(i- Bu)₂ · 2THF]₂ (Y–Al) are isomorphous and crystallize in space group P 1 with a =12.441(3) Å 12.347(5) Å for Y–Al], b =12.832(3) Å 12.832(4) Å], c =11.334(3) Å 11.292(8) Å], α=104.93 (2)° 104.45(4)°], β=98.47(2)° 98.81(4)°], γ=64.60(2)° 64.30(3)°], R =0.519 0.113], R _w=0.0532 0.110], Z =1 and (μ-CF₃CO₂)₂Eu(CF₃ CHO₂)AlEt₂ · 2THF]₂(Eu–Al) in space group P 2₁/ n with a =11.913(6) Å, b =14.051(9) Å, c =17.920(9) Å, α=101.88(11)°, β=γ=90°, R =0.0509, R _w=0.0471 and Z =2. The six CF₃CO