Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of heteroleptic rare earth metal bis(phenolate) complexes
Ruipeng Qi1, Bao Liu, Xiaoping Xu
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Dushu Lake Campus, Suzhou University, Suzhou, 215123, PR China.
Abstract:
The synthesis, characterization and reactivity of heteroleptic rare earth metal complexes supported by the carbon-bridged bis(phenolate) ligand 2,2'-methylene-bis(6-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenoxo) (MBMP2-) are described. Reaction of (C5H5)3Ln(THF) with MBMPH2 in a 1:1.5 molar ratio in THF at 50 degrees C produced the heteroleptic rare earth metal bis(phenolate) complexes (C5H5)Ln(MBMP)(THF)n (Ln=La, n=3 (); Ln=Yb (), Y (), n=2) in nearly quantitative yields. The residual C5H5- groups in complexes to can be substituted by the bridged bis(phenolate) ligands at elevated temperature to give the neutral rare earth metal bis(phenolate) complexes, and the ionic radii have a profound effect on the structures of the final products. Complex reacted with MBMPH2 in a 1:0.5 molar ratio in toluene at 80 degrees C to produce a dinuclear complex (MBMP)La(THF)(micro-MBMP)2La(THF)2 () in good isolated yield; whereas complexes and reacted with MBMPH2 under the same conditions to give (MBMP)Ln(MBMPH)(THF)2 (Ln=Yb (), Y ()) as the final products, in which one hydroxyl group of the phenol is coordinated to the rare earth metal in a neutral fashion. The reactivity of complexes and with some metal alkyls was explored. Reaction of complex with 1 equiv. of AlEt3 in toluene at room temperature afforded unexpected ligand redistributed products, and a discrete ion pair ytterbium complex [(MBMP)Yb(THF)2(DME)][(MBMP)2Yb(THF)2] () was isolated in moderate yield. Furthermore, reaction of complex with 1 equiv. of ZnEt2 in toluene gave a ligand redistributed complex [(micro-MBMP)Zn(THF)]2 () in reasonable isolated yield. Similar reaction of complex with ZnEt2 also afforded complex ; whereas the reaction of complex with 1 equiv. of n-BuLi in THF afforded the heterodimetallic complex [(THF)Yb(MBMP)2Li(THF)2] (). All of these complexes were well characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, and single-crystal structure determination, in the cases of complexes , and -.
More Related Videos
19:58Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions
Published on: July 30, 2017
10:52Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex
Published on: July 27, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Valence Bond Theory
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH3
Diels–Alder Reaction: Characteristics of Dienophiles
Characteristics of Dienophiles
Generally, the best dienophiles are alkenes containing electron-withdrawing substituents such as carbonyl, nitrile, and nitro groups. The feasibility of a Diels–Alder reaction depends on...
Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
Diels–Alder Reaction: Characteristics of Dienes
Characteristics of the diene
Conformation
The simplest example of a diene is 1,3-butadiene, an acyclic conjugated π system. At room temperature, the molecule exists as a mixture of s-cis and s-trans conformers by virtue of rotation around the carbon–carbon single bond. Although the s-trans isomer is more stable, the...