To bend or not to bend: experimental and computational studies of structural preference in Ln(Tp(iPr)2)2 (Ln = Sm, Tm).

The synthesis and characterization of Ln(Tp(iPr2))2 (Ln = Sm, 3Sm; Tm, 3Tm) are reported. While the simple (1)H NMR spectra of the compounds indicate a symmetrical solution structure, with equivalent pyrazolyl groups, the solid-state structure revealed an unexpected, "bent sandwich-like" geometry. By contrast, the structure of the less sterically congested Tm(Tp(Me2,4Et))2 (4) adopts the expected symmetrical structure with a linear B-Tm-B arrangement. Computational studies to investigate the origin of the unexpected bent structure of the former compounds indicate that steric repulsion between the isopropyl groups forces the Tp ligands apart and permits the development of unusual interligand C-H···N hydrogen-bonding interactions that help stabilize the structure. These results find support in the similar geometry of the Tm(III) analogue [Tm(Tp(iPr2))2]I, 3Tm(+), and confirm that the low symmetry is not the result of a metal-ligand interaction. The relevance of these results to the general question of the coordination geometry of MX2 and M(C5R5)2 (M = heavy alkaline earth and Ln(II), X = halide, and C5R5 = bulky persubstituted cyclopentadienyl) complexes and the importance of secondary H-bonding and nonbonding interactions on the structure are highlighted.

Insights into the mechanism of reaction of [(C5Me5)2Sm(II)(thf)2] with CO2 and COS by DFT studies.

Reaction mechanisms for the oxidative reactions of CO(2) and COS with [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm] have been investigated by means of DFT methods. The experimental formation of oxalate and dithiocarbonate complexes is explained. Their formation involve the samarium(III) bimetallic complexes [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm-CO(2)-Sm(C(5)Me(5))(2)] and [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm-COS-Sm(C(5)Me(5))(2)] as intermediates, respectively, ruling out radical coupling for the formation of the oxalate complex.

Synthesis and structure of divalent thulium borohydrides, and their application in ε-caprolactone polymerisation.

The new divalent thulium compound [Tm(BH(4))(2)(DME)(2)] could be prepared by reduction of [Tm(BH(4))(3)(THF)(3)] or from TmI(2) and KBH(4). It was used as a precursor to the divalent [(Tp(tBu,Me))Tm(BH(4))(THF)] by reaction with potassium tris(2-tBu-4-Me)pyrazolylborate (KTp(tBu,Me)). Both Tm(II) compounds were found active as ε-caprolactone polymerisation catalysts.

Theoretical treatment of redox processes involving lanthanide(II) compounds: reactivity of organosamarium(II) and organothulium(II) complexes with CO2 and pyridine.

An effective methodology to deal with the theoretical treatment on the redox chemistry of divalent organolanthanide complexes is reported and has been tested on two representative substrates, pyridine and CO(2), with two different metals (samarium and thulium). An influence of the ancillary ligands, namely, C(5)Me(5) (Cp*) or (2,3,4,5-tetramethylphospholyl) (Tmp), on the one- or two-electron oxidation processes is observed. The theoretical results are in excellent agreement with the experimental observations indicating the efficiency of the method.

Non-classical divalent lanthanide complexes.

The synthesis of non-classical divalent lanthanide complexes, i.e. those not containing the classical samarium(II), europium(II) or ytterbium(II), was once thought impossible. Since 1997, when the first stable complex of thulium(II) was discovered, there has been many more examples of stable coordination and organometallic complexes of lanthanum(II), neodymium(II) and dysprosium(II) in addition to thulium(II), and the influence of the ligand system on the stability of the complexes is beginning to be understood. These non-classical divalent compounds show exceptional reactivity as some of them have been shown to activate dinitrogen at room temperature, together with related reduced divalent-like systems, and to undergo spontaneous intramolecular carbon-hydrogen bond activation. Many more examples of non-classical divalent compounds together with new aspects of their exciting reactivity should be discovered in the near future.

Synthesis of samarium(II) borohydrides and their behaviour as initiators in styrene and epsilon-caprolactone polymerisation.

The bisborohydrido samarium compound Sm(BH(4))(2)(THF)(2) (1) was prepared in high yield by comproportionation between Sm and 2 equivalents of Sm(BH(4))(3)(THF)(3). Reaction of 1 with KCp* (Cp* = C(5)Me(5)) afforded the half-sandwich Cp*Sm(BH(4))(THF)(2) (2). The (1)H NMR borohydride resonances of both complexes, observed at very high field, are typical of divalent Sm compounds. X-Ray single crystal analysis revealed polymeric and dimeric molecular arrangements for 1 and 2, respectively. Complex 1 was found moderately active towards styrene polymerisation when activated with Al((i)Bu)(3), or with a borate/Al combination, whereas 2 showed no activity. Ring-opening polymerisation of epsilon-caprolactone could be performed rapidly at room temperature with both initiators. Complex 2 leads to narrow polydispersities and higher activity. Two different mechanisms, by monoelectronic transfer or by insertion into the Sm-(BH(4)) bond can be proposed.

Mono-phosphacyclopentadienyl bis(tetramethylaluminate) lanthanide complexes.

Homoleptic complexes Ln(AlMe(4))(3) (Ln = La, Nd) can be straightforwardly utilized in salt metathetic exchange reactions with potassium 2,3,4,5-tetramethylphospholide (KTmp) or 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-bis(trimethylsilyl)phospholide (KDsp) affording monophosphacyclopentadienyl hydrocarbyl complexes (eta(5)-PC(4)Me(4))Ln(AlMe(4))(2) and [eta(5)-PC(4)Me(2)(SiMe(3))(2)]Ln(AlMe(4))(2) (Ln = La, Nd). The solid-state structures reveal distinct metal size effects as evidenced by X-ray diffraction analyses of monomeric neodymium Tmp and Dsp derivatives as well as the dimeric lanthanum Tmp complex. Dimerization is accomplished by intermolecular P --> La donor contacts. Upon activation with [PhMe(2)NH][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] the monophosphacyclopentadienyl complexes initiate the polymerization of isoprene producing 1,4-trans-polyisoprene (tPIP > 87%) with moderate activity (approximately 30 kg(PIP) mol(Ln)(-1) h(-1)).

Synthesis of a new stable, neutral organothulium(II) complex by reduction of a thulium(III) precursor.

The new stable, neutral Tm(II) complex (Cp(ttt))2Tm [Cp(ttt) = 1,2,4-tris(tert-butyl)cyclopentadienyl] can be obtained either by direct reaction of NaCp(ttt) with TmI2 or by reduction of (Cp(ttt))2TmI in non-polar solvents; this latter route may prove itself useful for the isolation of other neutral non-classical low-valent organolanthanide species.

New mono- and bis-carbene samarium complexes: synthesis, X-ray crystal structures and reactivity.

New samarium carbene complexes have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis; the carbenic nature was assessed by reactivity studies.

Structure and reactivity of homoleptic samarium(II) and thulium(II) phospholyl complexes.

Potassium 2,5-di-tert-butyl-3,4-dimethylphospholide K(dtp) (9) was synthesised in 45 % yield from commercially available starting materials by using zirconacyclopentadiene chemistry. Reaction of the K salt of this bulky anion and of the previously described potassium 2,5-bis(trimethylsilyl)-3,4-dimethylphospholide K(dsp) (8) with SmI(2) in diethyl ether afforded the homoleptic samarium(II) complexes 7 and 6, respectively, whose solid-state structures, [[Sm(dtp)(2)](2)] (7 a) and [[Sm(dsp)(2)](2)] (6 a), are dimeric owing to coordination of the phosphorus lone pairs to samarium, as shown by X-ray crystallography. Reaction of 8 with TmI(2) in diethyl ether afforded [Tm(dsp)(2)(Et(2)O)], which could not be desolvated without decomposition. In contrast, the coordinated ether group of the solvate [Tm(dtp)(2)(Et(2)O)], obtained from 9 and TmI(2), could easily be removed by evaporation of the solvent and extraction with pentane at room temperature, and the monomer [Tm(dtp)(2)] (5) could be isolated and was characterised by X-ray crystallography. Presumably, steric crowding in 5 is too high for dimerisation to occur. Compound 5, the first Tm(II) homoleptic sandwich complex, is remarkably stable at room temperature in solution and did not noticeably react with nitrogen, in sharp contrast with other thulium(II) species. As expected, 5, 6 and 7 all reacted with azobenzene to give the trivalent complexes [Tm(dtp)(2)(N(2)Ph(2))] (13), [Sm(dsp)(2)(N(2)Ph(2))], (14) and [Sm(dtp)(2)(N(2)Ph(2))] (15), respectively; 13 and 14 were characterised by X-ray crystallography. Complex 5 immediately reacted with triphenylphosphane sulfide at room temperature to give [[Tm(dtp)(2)](2)(mu-S)] (16), which was characterised by X-ray crystallography, whereas samarium(II) complexes 6 and 7 did not noticeably react with Ph(3)PS over 24 h under the same conditions.

Synthesis and structure of phospholyl- and arsolylthulium(II) complexes.

Reaction of thulium diiodide with substituted phospholide and arsolide salts respectively afforded stable bis(phospholyl)- and bis(arsolyl)thulium(II) complexes, that were characterised by multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystal structures, thus showing the beneficial effects of the steric and electronic properties of crowded phospholyl and arsolyl ligands for the stabilisation of divalent thulium.