Synthesis and characterization of (C5H9C9H6)2Yb(THF)2(II) (1) and [(C5H9C5H4)2Yb(THF)]2O2 (2), and ring-opening polymerization of lactones with 1

Reaction of YbI2 with two equivalents of cyclopentylindenyl lithium (C5H9C9H6Li) affords ytterbium(II) substituted indenyl complex (C5H9C9H6)2Yb(THF)2 (1) which shows high activity to ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactones. The reaction between YbI2 and cyclopentylcyclopentadienyl sodium (C5H9C5H4Na) gives complex [(C5H9C5H4)2Yb(THF)]2O2 (2) in the presence of a trace amount of O2, the molecular structure of which comprises two (C5H9C5H4)2Yb(THF) bridged by an asymmetric O2 unit. The O2 unit and ytterbium atoms define a plane that contains a Ci symmetry center.