A molecular mechanics study on novel Ln(0) π-arene compounds

To examine the steric effects on the stability of Ln(0) π-arene compounds, molecular mechanics (MMP2) calculations are performed on Gd(η-C₆H₆)₂ and Ln(η-Bu^t₃C₆H₃)₂ (where Ln is Gd, Yb and Y ). The small potential-well depth ( ≈ 2 kcal mol⁻¹) and the large Gd-C equilibrium distance ( > 3.3 Å) explains the instability of Gd(η-C₆H₆)₂, while the difference in the stability between Gd(η-Bu^t₃C₆H₃)₂ and Yb(η-Bu^t₃C₆H₃)₂ can be attributed to the difference in the van der Waalsradii of the two metals and the more contracted 5d orbitals on the Yb atom.