Structural characterization and reactivity studies of the Samarium aryloxide complex Sm(O-2,6-Pri2C6H3) 3(THF)2

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0277-5387(95)00351-7

Reaction of the samarium aryloxide bis-THF adduct Sm(OAr)₃(THF)₂ (1; Ar = 2,6-Prⁱ₂C₆H₃) with two equivalents of pyridine produces the bis-pyridine complex Sm(OAr)₃py₂ (2) in 85% yield. Compound 1 also reacts with an excess of pyridine to form the tris-pyridine adduct Sm(OAr)₃py₃ (3) in excellent yield. Addition of one equivalent of KOAr to 1 leads to the isolation of the potassium salt K[Sm(OAr)₄] (4) in high yield. The salt 4 reacts with one equivalent of pyridine to form the mono-pyridine adduct K[Sm(OAr)₄py] (5). Compounds 1-5 have been characterized by ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and, in the case of 1, by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. In the solid state, 1 adopts a trigonal bipyramidal structure in which THF ligands occupy axial sites. Sm - O distances to the aryloxide ligands average 2.14(2) A, while those to THF ligands average 2.45(2) A.