SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURES AND REACTIONS OF YTTERBIUM(II) ALKYLS

Treatment of Ybl(2) with 2 NaCHR(2) gave [Yb(CHR(2))(2)(OEt(2))(2)] 1 in Et(2)O, but Yb(CHR(2))(3)Na in n-C6H14 {1 was also obtained from 2 KCHR(2) and [Yb(OAr)(2)(OEt(2))(2)]}, while Ybl(2) and 2 KCR(3) in Et( 2)O gave [{Yb(CR(3))(mu-OEt)(OEt(2))}(2)] 7; [Yb(CHR(2))(OAr)(thf)(3)] was prepared from [Yb(OAr)(2)(thf)(3)] and KCHR(2), and [Yb{N(R)C(Ph) C(H)C(Ph)NR}(2)] or [Yb{N(R)C(Bu(t))CHR}(2)] 6 from 1 + 4 PhCN or 1 2 Bu(t)CN in Et(2)O, respectively; Yb-171 NMR spectral data confirmed the identity of each of the ytterbium(II) compounds, and single crysta l X-ray results are presented for 6 and 7 (R = SiMe(3), Ar = 2,6-Bu(2) (t)-4-Me-C6H2).