Synthesis and solid-state structures of pyrazolylmethane complexes of the rare earths

In this paper, we report the first examples of trispyrazolylmethane complexes of rare earths. Reaction of LnCl3 with Tpm* (tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane) in THF or acetonitrile gives good yields of the [Ln(Tpm*)Cl3] (Ln = Y, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Yb). Tpm* adducts of the lanthanide triflates [Ln(Tpm*)(OTf)3(THF)] (Ln = Y, Ho, Dy) may also be prepared. The X-ray crystal structures of [Y(Tpm*)Cl3], [Sm(Tpm*)Cl3(THF)], and [Ln(Tpm*)(OTf)3(THF)] (Ln = Y, Ho) are reported. The halide/triflate complexes may be used to prepare the aryloxide complexes [Ln(Tpm*)(OArMe2)3] (Ln = Y, Nd, Sm, Yb; ArMe2 = C6H3-2,6-(CH3)2), which are fluxional in solution as a result of interactions between the Tpm* and the aryloxide groups. The structures of the Nd and Sm complexes have been determined. Finally, the reaction of [Nd(BH4)3(THF)3] with Tpm* in THF results in the displacement of two THF molecules to give [Nd(Tpm*)(BH4)3(THF)]. Infrared spectra are consistent with tridentate borohydride coordination. The X-ray structures of these compounds indicate that the Tpm* ligand is less strongly bound than its anionic trispyrazolylborate analogues.