Synthesis of arene-soluble mixed-metal Zr/Ce, Zr/Y, and related {[Zr-2((OPr)-Pr-i)(9)]LnX(2)}(n) complexes using the dizirconium nonaisopropoxide ligand

The utility of polydentate monoanionic [Zr-2((OPr)-Pr-i)(9)](-) in generati ng arene-soluble, unsolvated, mixed-metal Zr/Ce and Zr/Y complexes is descr ibed. The synthesis of other mixed-metal zirconium lanthanide complexes was also studied to explore the relationship of metal size to structure. Lanth anide trihalides react in THF with KZr2((OPr)-Pr-i)(9) to form unsolvated d imers, {[Zr-2((OPr)-Pr-i)(9)](-)LnCl(2)}(2), with the larger metals, Ln = C e (1), Ho (2), Y (3), and unsolvated monomers, [Zr-2((OPr)-Pr-i)(9)]LnCl(2) , with the smaller elements, Ln = Er (4), Yb (5). The synthesis of a monome ric iodide analogue, [Zr-2((OPr)-Pr-i)(9)]TmI2, 6, by reduction of Zr-2((OP r)-Pr-i)(8)((PrOH)-Pr-i)(2) with TmI2(DME)(3) is also reported. In all of t hese complexes, the [Zr-2((OPr)-Pr-i)(9)](-) subunit is tetradentate. 1-6 a re compared with related cyclopentadienyl halide complexes to evaluate the special features of the dizirconium nonaisopropoxide ligand versus cyclopen tadienide.