Oxidation and coupling of β-diketiminate ligand in lanthanide complexes: novel eight-nuclear lanthanide clusters with μ-, μ3-Cl, and μ4-O bridge.

Two novel eight-nuclear lanthanide oxide and chloride clusters Ln(8)(μ-η(2)-L(4))(2)(μ(3)-Cl)(4)(μ-Cl)(10)(μ(4)-O)(3)(THF)(8) (Ln = Er(3), Dy(4); L(4) = [OC{(Me)CN-2,6-(i)PrC(6)H(3)}(2)](2-)) have been synthesized by the reaction of β-diketiminate rare-earth metal chlorides with oxygen, providing a new oxidation and coupling reaction of the β-diketiminate ligand.