Characterization of a Monomeric, Homoleptic, Solvent-Free Samarium Bis(aryloxide).

The reaction of Sm[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2 with 2 equiv of the bulky aryloxide ligand HOAr iPr6 [Ar iPr6 = -C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6- iPr3)2] afforded the first monomeric homoleptic solvent-free bis(aryloxide) lanthanide complex Sm(OAr iPr6)2. The complex was characterized by crystallography and UV-visible and IR spectroscopy and magnetically by Evans' method. The O-Sm-O angle is highly bent at 111.08(9)°. The samarium ion in Sm(OAr iPr6)2 also displays close contacts with the flanking aryl rings of the terphenyloxide ligands. The complex is paramagnetic at room temperature with a magnetic moment of 3.51 μB.