New reactions of (beta)-diketiminatolanthanoid complexes: sterically induced self-deprotonation of (beta)diketiminato ligands

Attempted synthesis of sterically demanding bis- or tris-(beta)-diketiminato complexes of lanthanoids resulted in ligand deprotonation and the formation of complexes containing both a "normal" and a deprotonated ligand; one of these on protonation gave the first cationic (beta)-diketiminato–Ln complex.