Cationic rare-earth metal SALEN complexes

Complexes (Salpren(tBu,tBu))Y[N(SiHMe2)2](thf) and (SALEN(tBu,tBu))La[N(SiHMe2)2](thf) (SALEN(tBu,tBu) = Salcyc(tBu,tBu) and Salpren(tBu,tBu)) were prepared from Ln[N(SiHMe2)2]3(thf)2 and H2SALEN(tBu,tBu). The yttrium complex was characterized by X-ray crystallography revealing intrinsic solid-state structural features: the metal centre is displaced by 1.05 angstroms from the [N2O2] least squares plane of a highly bent Salpren(tBu,tBu) ligand (angle(Ph,Ph) dihedral angle of 80.4(1) degrees ) and is coordinated asymmetrically by the silylamide ligand exhibiting one significant Y---(HSi) beta-agostic interaction (Y-N1-Si1, 106.90(9) degrees; Y---Si1, 3.2317(6) angstroms). Complexes (SALEN(tBu,tBu))Ln[N(SiHMe2)2](thf)n (n = 1, Sc; n = 2, Y, La) react with ammonium tetraphenylborate to form the ion pairs [(SALEN(tBu,tBu))Ln(thf)n][BPh4]. The cationisation was proven by X-ray crystal structure analyses of [(Salpren(tBu,tBu))Sc(thf)2][B(C6H5)4].2(thf) and [(Salpren(tBu,tBu))Ln(thf)3][B(C6H5)4].4(thf) (Ln = Y, La), showing an octahedral and pentagonal-bipyramidal coordination geometry, respectively.