Cyclooctatetraenide derivatives of divalent samarium

Owing to the lack of suitable precursor complexes and applicable synthetic methodology, few soluble divalent organosamarium compounds are known. Recently, a facile route to SmI₂(THF)₂ proceeding from the bulk metal powder and several organic halides has been described by Kagan & co-workers. We demonstrate herein that this material or the desolvated salt can be used directly in mathematical syntheses (as illustrated by the synthesis of insoluble Sm(C₈H₈) and the THF-soluble K₂Sm(C₈H₈)₂).