Highly Reactive SmII Macrocyclic Clusters: Precursors to N2 Reduction

Abstract

Transamination reactions of [{(Me3Si)2N}2Sm(thf)2] with the dianion of either 1,1-di-(α-pyrrolyl)cyclohexane or diphenyl dipyrromethane led to the octanuclear complex shown in the picture and the hexanuclear complex [{[Ph2C(α-C4H3N)2]Sm}6(thf)3], respectively. Both clusters possess flat macrocyclic structures and react with dinitrogen to afford the corresponding isostructural tetranuclear dinitrogen complexes.