Divalent Tetra- and Penta-phenylcyclopentadienyl Europium and Samarium Sandwich and Half-Sandwich Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Remarkable Luminescence Properties

Abstract

The synthesis of the bulky divalent (polyphenylcyclopentadienyl)lanthanoid sandwich complexes [Ln(C5Ph5)2] (Ln = Sm, Eu) and [Ln(C5Ph4H)2(solv)] (Ln = Sm, solv = thf; Ln = Eu, solv = dme)], from redox-transmetalation/protolysis (RTP) reactions, has been achieved. An analogous reaction with Yb afforded the solvent-separated ion pair [Yb(dme)4][C5Ph4H]2. In addition, rare divalent samarium halide complexes [Sm(C5Ph5)(μ-Br)(thf)2]2 and [Sm(C5Ph4H)I(thf)3], were also prepared, either by RTP or ligand rearrangement. X-ray studies showed that the [Ln(C5Ph5)2] complexes adopt highly symmetrical sandwich structures, whereas the [Ln(C5Ph4H)2(solv)] complexes have open sandwich structures. The unexpected, but limited, solubility of the [Ln(C5Ph5)2] complexes allowed for variable-temperature NMR spectra of [Sm(C5Ph5)2] to be obtained. Detailed 1D and 2D NMR studies were conducted on [Sm(C5Ph4H)2(thf)] to ascertain its structure in donor and nondonor solvents. During the course of these studies, the mixed tetraarylcy...