Novel, Highly Symmetrical Halogen-Centered Polynuclear Lanthanide Complexes: [Cp6Yb6Cl13]− and [Cp12Sm12Cl24]

Abstract

If THF is removed from the complexes [CpLnCl2(thf)3] (Cp=C5H5, Ln=Sm, Yb), halogen-centered polynuclear complexes are formed. [{CpSmCl2}12] displays an icosahedral arrangement of the 12 Sm atoms with 20 Cl atoms in the “outer envelope” and four further Cl atoms within the icosahedron (see structure on the right). The partially desolvated [CpYbCl2]⋅1/3 THF consists of trinuclear cations [Cp3Yb3Cl5(thf)3]+ and octahedral anions [Cp6Yb6Cl13]−.