A simple synthesis of tetrahydrofuran complexes of lanthanoid trichlorides: convenient substitutes for anhydrous lanthanoid chlorides

Abstract

Reaction of lanthanoid metals with hexachloroethane in tetrahydrofuran under ultrasonication conditions gives LnCl₃(thf)_n(Ln = La, Nd, Sm, n= 2; Ln = Gd, Yb, n= 3; Ln = Er, n= 3.5, thf = tetrahydrofuran) in good yield; the X-ray crystal structure of [YbCl₃(thf)₂]₂, derived from YbCl₃(thf)₃ by prolonged treatment with pentane, reveals a chloride-bridged octahedral dimer with trans thf ligands.