The Ln(3+) and Ln(2+) complexes, Cp'3Ln, 1, (Cp' = C5H4SiMe3) and [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Cp'3Ln], 2, respectively, have been synthesized for the six lanthanides traditionally known in +2 oxidation states, i.e., Ln = Eu, Yb, Sm, Tm, Dy, and Nd, to allow direct structural and spectroscopic comparison with the recently discovered Ln(2+) ions of Ln = Pr, Gd, Tb, Ho, Y, Er, and Lu in 2. 2-La and 2-Ce were also prepared to allow the first comparison of all the lanthanides in the same coordination environment in both +2 and +3 oxidation states. 2-La and 2-Ce show the same unusual structural feature of the recently discovered +2 complexes, that the Ln-(Cp' ring centroid) distances are only about 0.03 Å longer than in the +3 analogs, 1. The Eu, Yb, Sm, Tm, Dy, and Nd complexes were expected to show much larger differences, but this was observed for only four of these traditional six lanthanides. 2-Dy and 2-Nd are like the new nine ions in this tris(cyclopentadienyl) coordination geometry. A DFT-based model explains the results and shows that a 4f (n)5d(1) electron configuration is appropriate not only for the nine recently discovered Ln(2+) ions in 2 but also for Dy(2+) and Nd(2+), which traditionally have 4f (n+1) electron configurations like Eu(2+), Yb(2+), Sm(2+), and Tm(2+). These results indicate that the ground state of a lanthanide ion in a molecule can be changed by the ligand set, a previously unknown option with these metals due to the limited radial extension of the 4f orbitals.

The first molecular complexes of holmium and erbium in the +2 oxidation state have been generated by reducing Cp'(3)Ln [Cp' = C(5)H(4)SiMe(3); Ln = Ho (1), Er (2)] with KC(8) in the presence of 18-crown-6 in Et(2)O at -35 °C under argon. Purification and crystallization below -35 °C gave isomorphous [(18-crown-6)K][Cp'(3)Ln] [Ln = Ho (3), Er (4)]. The three Cp' ring centroids define a trigonal-planar geometry around each metal ion that is not perturbed by the location of the potassium crown cation near one ring with K-C(Cp') distances of 3.053(8)-3.078(2) Å. The metrical parameters of the three rings are indistinguishable within the error limits. In contrast to Ln(2+) complexes of Eu, Yb, Sm, Tm, Dy, and Nd, 3 and 4 have average Ln-(Cp' ring centroid) distances only 0.029 and 0.021 Å longer than those of the Ln(3+) analogues 1 and 2, a result similar to that previously reported for the 4d(1) Y(2+) complex [(18-crown-6)K][Cp'(3)Y] (5) and the 5d(1) La(2+) complex [K(18-crown-6)(Et(2)O)][Cp″(3)La] [Cp″ = 1,3-(Me(3)Si)(2)C(5)H(3)]. Surprisingly, the UV-vis spectra of 3 and 4 are also very similar to that of 5 with two broad absorptions in the visible region, suggesting that 3-5 have similar electron configurations. Density functional theory calculations on the Ho(2+) and Er(2+) species yielded HOMOs that are largely 5d(z(2)) in character and supportive of 4f(10)5d(1) and 4f(11)5d(1) ground-state configurations, respectively.

Flash reduction of Cp'3U (Cp' = C5H4SiMe3) in a column of potassium graphite in the presence of 2.2.2-cryptand generates crystalline [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Cp'3U], the first isolable molecular U(2+) complex. To ensure that this was not the U(3+) hydride, [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Cp'3UH], which could be crystallographically similar, the hydride complex was synthesized by addition of KH to Cp'3U and by reduction of H2 by the U(2+) complex and was confirmed to be a different compound. Density functional theory calculations indicate a 5f(3)6d(1) quintet ground state for the [Cp'3U](-) anion and match the observed strong transitions in its optical spectrum.

A review covering catalytic method development to enable efficient chemical recycling and upcycling of the most abundant commercial polymers.

Structural, spectroscopic, and DFT analysis of the first molecular complexes of Th2+ indicate they have a 6d2 electron configuration of the type expected for the transactinide ions Rf2+ and Db3+.

Mechanistic studies involving synergistic experiment and theory were performed on the perfectly alternating copolymerization of 1-butene oxide and carbic anhydride using a (salph)AlCl/[PPN]Cl catalytic pair. These studies showed a first-order dependence of the polymerization rate on the epoxide, a zero-order dependence on the cyclic anhydride, and a first-order dependence on the catalyst only if the two members of the catalytic pair are treated as a single unit. Studies of model complexes showed that a mixed alkoxide/carboxylate aluminum intermediate preferentially opens cyclic anhydride over epoxide. In addition, ring-opening of epoxide by an intermediate comprising multiple carboxylates was found to be rate-determining. On the basis of the experimental results and analysis by DFT calculations, a mechanism involving two catalytic cycles is proposed wherein the alternating copolymerization proceeds via intermediates that have carboxylate ligation in common, and a secondary cycle involving a bis-alkoxide species is avoided, thus explaining the lack of side reactions until the polymerization is complete.

Nd, like U, prefers a f4 configuration with the tris(aryloxide)arene ligand rather than the 4f35d1 configuration found in tris(cyclopentadienyl) complexes.

The recently reported series of divalent lanthanide complex salts, namely [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Cp'3Ln] (Ln = Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm; Cp' = C5H4SiMe3) and the analogous trivalent complexes, Cp'3Ln, have been characterized via dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements. The salts of the complexes [Cp'3Dy](-) and [Cp'3Ho](-) exhibit magnetic moments of 11.3 and 11.4 μB, respectively, which are the highest moments reported to date for any monometallic molecular species. The magnetic moments measured at room temperature support the assignments of a 4f(n+1) configuration for Ln = Sm, Eu, Tm and a 4f(n)5d(1) configuration for Ln = Y, La, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er. In the cases of Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, simple models do not accurately predict the experimental room temperature magnetic moments. Although an LS coupling scheme is a useful starting point, it is not sufficient to describe the complex magnetic behavior and electronic structure of these intriguing molecules. While no slow magnetic relaxation was observed for any member of the series under zero applied dc field, the large moments accessible with such mixed configurations present important case studies in the pursuit of magnetic materials with inherently larger magnetic moments. This is essential for the design of new bulk magnetic materials and for diminishing processes such as quantum tunneling of the magnetization in single-molecule magnets.