Physicochemical properties of near-linear Ln(II) bis-silylamide complexes (Ln = Sm, Eu, Tm, Yb)

Following our report of the first near-linear lanthanide (Ln) complex, [Sm(N††)2] (1), herein we present the synthesis of [Ln(N††)2] [N†† = {N(SiiPr3)2}–; Ln = Eu (2), Tm (3) and Yb (4)], thus achieving approximate uniaxial geometries for a series of “traditional” Ln(II) ions. Experimental evidence, together with calculations performed on a model of 4, indicate that dispersion forces are important for the stabilization of the near-linear geometries of 1-4. The isolation of 3 under a dinitrogen atmosphere is noteworthy, given that “[Tm(N′′)(μ-N′′)]2” (N′′ = {N(SiMe3)2}–) has not previously been structurally authenticated and reacts rapidly with N2(g) to give [{Tm(N′′)¬2}2(μ-η2:η2-N2)]. Complexes 1-4 have been characterized as appropriate by single crystal XRD, magnetic measurements, electrochemistry, and multinuclear NMR, EPR, and electronic spectroscopy, along with computational methods for 3 and 4. The remarkable geometries of monomeric 1-4 lead to interesting physical properties, which complement and contrast with comparatively well understood dimeric [Ln(N′′)(μ-N′′)]2 complexes. EPR spectroscopy of 3 shows that the near-linear geometry stabilizes mJ states with oblate spheroid electron density distributions, validating our previous suggestions. Cyclic voltammetry experiments carried out on 1-4 did not yield Ln(II) reduction potentials, so a reactivity study of 1 was performed with selected substrates in order to benchmark the Sm(III)→Sm(II) couple. The separate reactions of 1 with TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidinyl-1-oxy), azobenzene and benzophenone gave crystals of [Sm(N††)2(TEMPO)] (5), [Sm(N††)2(N2Ph2)] (6) and [Sm(N††){μ-OPhC(C6H5)CPh2O-κ-O,O′}]2 (7), respectively. The isolation of 5-7 shows that the Sm(II) center in 1 is still accessible despite having two bulky N†† moieties, and that the N-donor atoms are able to deviate further from linearity or ligand scrambling occurs in order to accommodate another ligand in the Sm(III) coordination spheres of the products.