Si–O–based inorganic ring systems containing f-elements: structural characterization of novel siloxanediolates of the lanthanides and actinides†

Abstract

Depending on the reaction conditions and the ionic radius of the lanthanide ion, tetraphenyldisiloxanediol, (Ph₂SiOH)₂O, reacts with [Ln{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃{LiCl(thf)₃}₃] (Ln = Eu, Gd, Sm) to afford novel heterobimetallic rare earth disiloxanediolates, some of which can be regarded as ‘inorganic lanthanide metallocenes’; a ring expanded uranium(VI) derivative, [U{Ph₂Si(OSiPh₂O)₂}₂{(Ph₂SiO)₂O}] 4, is formed upon treatment of uranocene, [U(η⁸-C₈H₈)₂], with (Ph₂SiOH)₂O.