Double InMe2 insertion into a 12-membered Si4O6Li2 inorganic ring system coordinated to praseodymium

A novel transformation of a lanthanide(III) disiloxanediolate complex with trimethylindium is reported. Treatment of the praseodymium “inorganic metallocene” complex [{(Ph2SiO)2O}2{Li(DME)}2]PrCl(DME) (5) with InMe3 resulted in double insertion of InMe2 units into the 12-membered Si4O6Li2 inorganic ring system attached to praseodymium and formation of [Li(THF)4][Pr{O(SiPh2OInMe2OSiPh2OSiPh2O)2}] (6). The novel ionic product 6 was structurally authenticated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.