The reaction of lanthanide triflates with 2 equiv of potassium hydrotris(dimethylpyrazolyl)borate (Tp(Me)()2) gives good yields of complexes of composition Ln(Tp(Me)()2)(2)OTf. For La (2), Ce (3), Pr (4), and Nd (5) the complexes are seven-coordinate in the solid state with the triflate group coordinated to the metal in unidentate fashion. Complex 5 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 17.629(3) Å, b = 12.740(2) Å, c = 18.163(3) Å, beta = 107.35(1) degrees, V = 3893(1) Å(3), Z = 4, and R(w) = 0.0458. For the complexes of Y (1), Sm (6), Eu (7), Gd (8), Dy (9), Ho (10), and Yb (11), the smaller size of the metal ion leads to ejection of the triflate from the coordination sphere and the complexes are ionic in the solid state with a six-coordinate metal center. Complex 11 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m with a = 16.593(7) Å, b = 13.671(5) Å, c = 8.746(2) Å, beta = 91.66(3) degrees, V = 1983(1) Å(3), Z = 2, and R(w) = 0.0416. In solution, however, complex 6 adopts a seven-coordinate molecular structure with the triflate ion within the first coordination sphere.

A series of lanthanide complexes containing a chalcogenolate ligand supported by two TpMe,Me (tris-3,5-dimethylpyrazolylborate) groups has been prepared and crystallized and provides direct comparisons of bonding to hard and soft ligands at lanthanide centers. Reaction of [Sm(TpMe,Me)2Cl] with NaOR (R = Ph, Ph-Bu(t)) gives [Sm(TpMe,Me)2OR] (1a and 1b, respectively) in good yields. Reductive cleavage of dichalcogenides by samarium(II) was used to prepare the heavier congeners. Complexes of the type [Sm(TpMe,Me)2ER] for E = S, R = Ph (2a), E = S, R = Ph-4-Me (2b), E = S, R = CH2Ph (2c), E = Se, R = Ph (3a), E = Se, R = Ph-4-Bu(t) (3b), E = Se, R = CH2Ph (3c), and E = Te, R = Ph (4) have been prepared together with the corresponding complexes with TpMe,Me,4-Et as ancillary. The X-ray crystal structures of 1b, 2b, 3a, 3b, and 4 have been determined. The crystal of 1b (C40H57B2N12OSm.C7H8) was monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.6845(6) A, b = 18.5573(11) A, c = 24.4075(14) A, beta = 91.616(2) degrees, Z = 4. The crystal of 2b (C37H51B2N12SSm) was monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 15.0154(9) A, b = 13.1853(8) A, c = 21.1254(13) A, beta = 108.628(2) degrees, Z = 4. The crystal of 3a (C36H49B2N12SeSm.C7H8) was triclinic, P1, a = 10.7819(6) A, b = 19.3011(10) A, c = 23.0235(12) A, alpha = 79.443(2) degrees, beta = 77.428(2) degrees, gamma = 89.827(2) degrees, Z = 4. The crystal of 3b (C40H57B2N12SeSm) was triclinic, P1, a = 10.1801(6) A, b = 10.2622(6) A, c = 23.4367(14) A, alpha = 88.313(2) degrees, beta = 86.268(2) degrees, gamma = 62.503(2) degrees, Z = 2. The crystal of 4 (C36H49B2N12TeSm.C7H8) was monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 18.7440(10) A, b = 10.3892(6) A, c = 23.8351(13) A, beta = 94.854(2) degrees, Z = 4. The compounds form an isoleptic series of seven-coordinate complexes with terminal chalcogenolate ligands. Examination of 1b and other crystallographically characterized lanthanide alkoxides suggests that there is little correlation between bond angle and bond length. The structures of 3a and 3b, however, contain molecules in which one of the pyrazolylborate ligands undergoes a major distortion arising from twisting around a B-N bond so as to give an effectively eight-coordinate complex with pi-stacking of the phenyl group with one pyrazolyl ring. These distortions shed light on the fluxionality of these systems.

The missing link between solid-state tellurium chemistry and polyhalide ions is provided by the synthesis of the almost linear (PhTe)(3)(-) ion, whose structure is shown. Tritelluride units are a recurring motif in the solid state and are related to the structures of polyhalides.

The missing link between solid-state tellurium chemistry and polyhalide ions is provided by the synthesis of the almost linear (PhTe)(3)(-) ion, whose structure is shown. Tritelluride units are a recurring motif in the solid state and are related to the structures of polyhalides.