10.1021/ic034090v
The research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of a series of group 3 metal complexes using the hexadentate ligand (SiMe2NPh)3-tacn)3-. The purpose of the study was to explore the coordination chemistry of these metals with macrocyclic ligands, which have potential applications in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, luminescent probes, diagnostic imaging, catalysis, and lanthanide separation. The researchers synthesized complexes of yttrium, europium, ytterbium, and uranium with the ligand, and found that these complexes displayed trigonal prismatic structures with the six nitrogen atoms of the ligand defining parallel planes. The larger ionic radius of lanthanum allowed for the coordination of a THF ligand, while the uranium(IV) halides formed seven-coordinate molecular complexes with a bicapped trigonal bipyramidal geometry.