Synthesis and crystal structure of a new lanthanide cyclooctatetraene complex (η8-C8H8)Er(µ-η8-C8H8)K(µ-η8-C8H8)Er(µ-η8-C8H8)K(THF)4

Abstract

The tetranuclear nearly-linear complex (η⁸-C₈H₈)Er(µ-η⁸-C₈H₈)K(µ-η⁸-C₈H₈)Er(µ-η⁸-C₈H₈)K(THF)₄(THF = tetrahydrofuran) is first synthesised by the reaction of benzylcyclopentadienyl erbium dichloride (PhCH₂C₅H₄)ErCl₂·3THF with cyclooctatetraenyl potassium K₂C₈H₈ in 1 : 1 molar ratio in THF; a single crystal X-ray study has shown that the complex has the tetralayer-sandwich structure and that the adjacent Er³⁺ and K⁺ ions are bridged by η⁸-cyclooctatetraenyl group.