ion upon treatment with B(C6F5)3 in THF to generate the cationic species [(MAC)Y(CH2SiMe3)][B(C6F5)3(CH2SiMe3)]. However, this salt was found to be highly unstable and could not be isolated as a pure material.97 Fryzuk et al. have developed a remarkable organoyttrium chemistry around the phosphorus-containing macrocycle syn-{P2N2} ({P2N2} ) [PhP(CH2SiMe2NSiMe2CH2)2PPh]). The starting material was the chloride-bridged dimer [{P2N2}Y(μ-Cl)]2, which can be prepared in 95% yield by the reaction of synLi2(THF){P2N2} with YCl3(THF)3 in THF solution. Straightforward metathesis using the very bulky alkyllithium reagent LiCH(SiMe3)2 according to eq 29 (methyl groups on Si omitted for clarity) afforded the monomeric yttrium alkyl species {P2N2}YCH(SiMe3)2 in 92% yield. Use of the less sterically hindered alkyl moiety CH2SiMe3 followed by addition of THF resulted in formation of the THF adduct {P2N2}YCH2SiMe3(THF), whereas the THF-free compound could only be isolated as a highly reactive oily material.98 A quite remarkable samarium alkyl complex of complicated molecular structure was reported by Gambarotta et al.99 Samarium diiodide acted as reducing agent in the reaction with (phenylenebis(3,5-tBu4-salicylidene)iminato)sodium, (3,5tBu4salophen)Na2(THF)3, to give dimeric [Sm2(SBSB)(THF)3]‚2toluene (SB-SB ) C-C bonded 3,5tBu4salophen dimer). The new ligand resulted from the reductive coupling of two imino functional groups of two 3,5-tBu4salophenSm units. Subsequent treatment with MeLi resulted in a novel oxo-bridged dimer (24), featuring alkylation of both samarium atoms and arising from cleavage of the C-C bond connecting the two units, as well as complete reduction of the imine groups of the salophen ligands and THF deoxygenation. In the formula drawing depicted here the bridging phenylene rings are omitted for clarity.99 Carbene complexes of the lanthanide elements have first become available through the use of the stable Arduengo-type carbenes.100,101 Organolanthanide derivatives are readily accessible by adding the heterocyclic carbene ligands to various diand trivalent rare earth complexes such as decamethylsamarocene. Cyclopentadienyl-free derivatives have been obtained by reacting 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene with the tris(2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionato) complexes of yttrium and europium, Ln(THD)3 (Ln ) Y, Eu). The two carbene complexes 25 were isolated as white solids in quantitative yield. The europium complex was structurally characterized by X-ray analysis. Despite the differences in the ionic radii of the two metals 7-coordinate monocarbene adducts are formed in both cases. With 266.3(4) pm the Eu-C distance in (1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene)Eu(THD)3 is comparable to Pr(III)-C and Sm(III)-C distances reported for some isonitrile complexes.102,103 In the 13C NMR spectrum of the yttrium complex the resonance for the former carbene carbon is at δ 199.38 (cf. δ 214 for the free carbene ligand) and shows a 13C-89Y coupling of 33 Hz which indicates that the Y-C bond does not dissociate rapidly on the NMR time scale.101 The bulkier 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (iPr-Carb) has been used to synthesize a mixed carbene-THF alkyl Lu(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)(Pr-Carb) (26).22d Due to its higher steric demand, the carbene ligand occupies an equatorial position (Lu-C(Carb) ) 249 pm). Somewhat related to the carbene complexes is a highly unusual monomeric samarium bis(iminophosphoranyl) chelate complex which has been reported by Cavell et al.104 Addition of H2C(Ph2PdNSiMe3)2 to a toluene solution of samarium tris(dicyclohexylamide) afforded bright yellow [κ-C,N,N′-C(Ph2Pd NSiMe3)2]Sm(NCy2)(THF) (27). The core of the molecule consists of two nearly planar, fused fourmembered rings with a Sm-C shared edge. With 246.7(4) pm the Sm-C bond length is considerably shorter (10%) than the average samarium-carbon distances, indicating that 27 can be formulated as a carbene complex. Non-Cyclopentadienyl Organolanthanide Complexes Chemical Reviews, 2002, Vol. 102, No. 6 1865

Synthesis and structural chemistry of non-cyclopentadienyl organolanthanide complexes.

Paramagnetism in organolanthanide complexes

A hydrogen sensor for the detection of hydrogen, e.g., in an environment susceptible to the incursion or generation of hydrogen. The sensor includes a rare earth metal thin film arranged for exposure to the environment and exhibiting a detectable change of physical property, e.g., optical transmissivity, electrical resistivity, magneto-resistance, and/or photoconductivity, when the rare earth metal thin film is contacted with hydrogen gas. The sensor may include an output assembly for converting the physical property change to a perceivable output. The rare earth metal thin film may correspondingly be used for signal processing applications, in which the rare earth metal thin film is contacted with hydrogen gas, and a predetermined voltage signal is selectively imposed across the rare earth metal thin film, to selectively electrically switch the film between mirror and window states, with a response being generated according to which of the mirror and window states is present.

Hydrogen sensor utilizing rare earth metal thin film detection element

Publisher Summary The replacement of the tedious fractional crystallization method of separation by the ion-exchange techniques used commercially today has made most of the lanthanide elements available in large-scale quantities of high purity. The increased availability of these metals and their compounds in the past few years has in turn promoted research which has resulted in new commercial applications. The rare earth series consists of the elements 57, lanthanum, through 71, lutetium. Yttrium, element 39, is also found to occur with these elements in nature and to display similar chemical behavior and is therefore generally classified with them. All four compounds are pyrophoric, rather thermally stable, and give positive tests with Michler's ketone. Reactions with mercuric chloride, carbon dioxide, and benzophenone give, respectively, phenyl mercuric chloride, benzoic acid, and triphenylcarbinol in good yields. A polymeric formulation has been suggested to explain the involatility and insolubility of the dried products, the initially isolated solids being benzene soluble, possibly as the result of monomer stabilization by tetrahydrofuran coordination.

H. J. Gysling

Papers

New series of organolanthanides: Ln(indenyl)

Evidence for a covalent organolanthanide: tris(indenyl)samarium-tetrahydrofuran