ORGANOLANTHANOIDS - XXII - THE SYNTHESIS AND X-RAY STRUCTURE OF DIMERIC [YBCP2F(THF)](2) (CP=CYCLOPENTADIENYL, THF=TETRAHYDROFURAN)

Reaction of YbCp2(DME) (Cp = cyclopentadienyl; DME = 1,2-dimethoxyetha ne) with perfluorodecalin or perfluoro(methylcyclohexane) in THF yield s [YbCp2F(THF)](2). These are the first examples of C-F activation of saturated perfluorocarbons by a lanthanoid organometallic. The X-ray c rystal structure of [YbCp2F(THF)](2) (monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 7.9901( 12), b = 20.411(4), c = 8.5957(12) Angstrom; beta = 104.70(2)degrees Z = 2, R-1 = 0.0495, for 1107 observed data) shows the complex to be di meric with bridging fluorides and formal nine coordination for ytterbi um. YbCp2F has also been obtained by oxidation of YbCp2(DME) with AgF or HgF2. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.