[N,N′-Bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)methanimidamidato][η8-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclooctatetraenyl](tetrahydrofuran)samarium(III) toluene monosolvate

Abstract

The title compound, [Sm(C25H35N2)(C14H24Si2)(C4H8O)]·C7H8, was prepared by treatment of anhydrous samarium trichloride with a 1:1 mixture of in situ-prepared Li(DippForm) [DippFormH = N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)methanimidamide] and Li2(COT′′) [COT′′ = 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclooctatetraenyl] in tetrahydrofuran (THF). Despite the presence of two very bulky ligands (COT′′ and DippForm), the molecule still contains one coordinated THF ligand. The overall coordination geometry around the SmIII atom resembles a three-legged piano-stool with the COT′′ ligand being η8-coordinated and the DippForm− anion acting as an N,N′-chelating ligand [Sm—N = 2.5555 (15) and 2.4699 (15) Å]. The asymmetric unit also contains a disordered molecule of toluene, the refined ratio of the two components being 0.80 (4):0.20 (4).