Structure of (η5-C5Me5)2LuCl(C4H8O) and exchange of co-ordinated solvent

Abstract

Reaction of LuCl₃ and 2NaC₅Me₅ in tetrahydrofuran (THF) affords crystals of (C₅Me₅)₂LuCl(THF), an X-ray structure determination showing the Lu atom to be in a distorted tetrahedral array in which the Lu–Cl bond length is 2.53 Å, the average Lu–C(η) bond length is 2.63 Å, and the ring–Lu–ring angle is 137°; variable temperature n.m.r. spectroscopy shows a dynamic equilibrium between co-ordinated and free THF with a barrier to exchange, ΔG^‡, of about 54 kJ mol^–1 at 0 °C.