Synthesis and structural characterization of terphenyl based mono(indenide) compounds of the rare-earth elements

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structure determination of the mono(indenide) rare-earth compounds [(DanipO)(Ind)Ln]2 (Ln = Sm: 1; Ln = Yb: 2) are reported (DanipO = 2-(o-anisyl)-6-(o-2-phenoxide)phenyl, Ind = indenide). Reaction of DanipLi (Danip = 2,6-di-o-anisolphenyl) with the corresponding lanthanide trichloride in tetrahydrofuran followed by addition of two equiv of KInd in tetrahydrofuran at −25 °C yields compounds 1 and 2 in approximately 10–20% yield. The molecular structures of 1 and 2 show an unsolvated dimeric half-sandwich compound and a formally dianionic partially demethylated mixed arylether/aryloxide terphenyl ligand (=DanipO).