Iodo bis bistrimethylsilylamido lanthanides

Reactions of lanthanide triiodides with potassium bistrimethylsilyl amide have been investigated. For lanthanum, recrystallisation from THF–toluene led to monocrystals of the dimeric bisamide [La(μ-I){N(TMS)2}2(THF)]2. We have shown that samarium diiodide and lanthanide triiodides are efficient for lanthanum and samarium reactions, a mixture of tris amides and iodo bisamides is obtained, while only the latter compound is obtained for ytterbium.