Lanthanides as d Metals

Abstract

Abstract Reduction of lanthanide trihalides with alkali metals along the route used by Klemm and Bommer leads to pure lanthanide metals. In closed Ta capsules at elevated temperatures, however, metal‐rich halides form which use the excess of Ln centered electrons for metal‐metal bonding. An overview of the extended d metal chemistry of lanthanides in binary, ternary and quaternary halides is presented. Consequences of the mutual interaction of d and f electrons are illustrated for selected magnetic and electrical properties.