Synthesis of Bis(2,6-Diadamantyl Aryloxide) Ln(II) Complexes of Samarium, Europium, and Ytterbium and Their Ln(III) Precursors

The syntheses of Ln(II) bis(aryloxide) complexes of Sm, Eu, and Yb have been examined with the bulky aryloxide ligand (OC6H2-2,6-Ad2-4-tBu)1– [(OAr*)1–; Ad = 1-adamantyl]. These LnII(OAr*)2(THF)2 complexes were pursued for comparison with the tris(aryloxide) Ln(II) complexes [LnII(OAr*)3]1– (Ln = La, Ce, Nd, Gd, Dy, and Lu), which have 4fn5d1 electron configurations, and with 4f14 [YbII(OAr*)3]1–. Although the Ln(II) chemistry of Sm, Eu, and Yb is often similar since they all adopt 4fn+1 electron configurations, their chemistry is surprisingly diverse with (OAr*)1–. Reactions of LnIII2(THF)2 with KOAr* in THF form the bis(aryloxide) Ln(II) complexes LnII(OAr*)2(THF)2, 1-Ln, that were characterized by X-ray diffraction for 1-Sm and 1-Yb, but crystals of 1-Eu have been elusive. Reduction of the tris(aryloxide) Sm(III) complex, SmIII(OAr*)3, 2-Sm, prepared from SmIII(NR2)3 (R = SiMe3) and HOAr* in refluxing toluene, generated the bis(aryloxide) complex, 1-Sm, and KOAr* rather than a Sm analogue of [YbII(OAr*)3]1–. Reduction of EuIII(OAr*)3, 2-Eu, prepared from EuCl3 with KOAr* in THF, caused an immediate dark blue-purple to bright red-orange color change, but crystals of the product were elusive. Neither reduction of TmIII(OAr*)3, 2-Tm, nor the reaction of TmIII2(DME)3 with KOAr* provided crystalline Tm(II) complexes.