[{Yb₆[η-C₅Me₄(SiMe₂Bu^t)]₆I₈}{Li(thf)₄}₂]: the spontaneous self-assembly of a hexanuclear ytterbium(<scp>II</scp>) octaiododianion

Abstract

Reaction of 1 equiv. of LiCps[Cps= C5Me4(SiMe2But)] with YbI2 affords the novel half-sandwich polyatomic species [{Yb6(η-Cps)6I8}{Li(thf)4}2] 1; the molecular structures and solid- and solution-state 171Yb NMR data for 1 and, for comparison, the dimeric half sandwich derivatives [{Yb(η-C5Me5)(µ-I)Ln}2](L = thf, n= 2, 2; L = dme, n= 1,3) are presented.