Novel synthesis of a lanthanide trialkyl - Characterization and crystal structure of Yb(CH(2)tBu)(3)(thf)(2)

The solvated ytterbium alkyl Yb(CH(2)tBu)(3)(thf)(2) (1) was obtained in mo derate yield from the reaction of ytterbium metal with neopentyl iodide. Ru by-red air-sensitive crystals of 1 were characterized by melting point, ele mental analysis, IR, NMR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy and by X-ray crystallogra phy. In the solid state the ytterbium atom shows a trigonal bipyramidal coo rdination with the neopentyl groups and the THF ligands occupying equatoria l and axial positions, respectively.