Synthesis and characterization of pentaphenyldiytterbium Ph2Yb(THF)(μ-Ph)3Yb(THF)3

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(92)83316-A

The binuclear ytterbium complex Ph2Yb(THF)(μ-Ph)3Yb(THF)3 (1) was obtained in reactions of naphthaleneytterbium C10H8Yb(THF)2 with diphenylmercury or triphenylbismuth in THF.An X-ray crystallographic study (a = 11.099(2), b = 19.876(4), c = 19.723(4) Angstroem, β = 103.33(3) deg, Z = 2, space group P2₁) showed that the molecule of 1 has two Yb atoms coupled by three bridging Ph groups, which are linked with the first Yb atom by an η¹ bond and with the second one by an unsymmetrical η² bond.In addition the first Yb atom has an η¹ bond with two terminal Ph groups and one coordinated THF molecule whereas the second Yb atom is linked with three THF molecules.The coordination of both Yb atoms is a distorted octahedron.In the crystal, there are two symmetrically independent molecules of 1 with a similar structure.The Yb-C (terminal Ph) bond length is 2.388-2.463 Angstroem.The η¹- and η²-Yb-C (bridging Ph) bond distance varies in the ranges 2.475-2.584, 2.547-2.751 and 2.877-3.250 Angstroem.The magnetic moment μ_eff(per Yb^III atom) is 4.0 +/- 0.05 μ_B.Reactions of 1 with water, HCl, Br2, MeI and CO2 give benzene, bromobenzene, toluene and PhCOOH, respectively.