Synthesis and Characterisation of Phosphino-Aryloxide Rare Earth Complexes

A series of homoleptic rare earth (RE) complexes bearing phosphino-aryloxide ligands ( , ) has been prepared. The complexes have been characterised using multinuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and elemental analysis. Structural characterisation highlighted the different RE-P interactions as a result of differing Lewis acidity and ionic size across the series, hinting at the possibility of FLP-type activity. The potential reactivity of these complexes has been tested by reacting them with small molecules (H , CO, CO ). A series of side-products ( ) has also been observed, isolated and characterised, featuring the incorporation of a phosphonium-aryloxide ligand.