Selective Protonation of the YC Bond in Trinuclear Yttrium Alkyl-Hydrido Clusters and Formation of the Cationic Polyhydrido Core

Lanthanide alkyl–hydrido clusters [(Ap*Ln)3(μ2‐H)3(μ3‐H)2(CH2SiMe3) (thf)2] (Ln=Er, Yb) have been synthesized. The reaction occurs selectively through protonolysis of the YC bond and results in the formation of the cationic trinuclear hydrido complex [(Ap*Y)3(μ2‐H)3(μ3‐H)2(thf)3][B(C6F5)4] (see scheme; Y green, H red, O pink, N blue, C gray).