Imide complexes [(TptBu,Me)Y(=NC6H3Me2‐2,6)(DMAP)] and [(TptBu,Me)Lu{=NC6H3(CF3)2‐3,5}(DMAP)] were obtained by Lewis base induced methane elimination of the corresponding methyl/anilide complexes, which were synthesized from [(TptBu,Me)LuMe2] and [(TptBu,Me)YMe(GaMe4)], respectively. Terminal Ln=N bonding is evidenced by very short Ln–N distances [min. 1.993(5) Å] and almost linear Ln–N–C(aryl) bond angles.

A series of rare-earth metal diisopropylamide complexes has been obtained via salt metathesis employing LnCl3(THF)x and lithium (LDA) or sodium diisopropylamide (NDA) in n-hexane. Reactions with AM : Ln ratios ≥3 gave ate complexes (AM)Ln(NiPr2)4(THF)n (n = 1, 2; Ln = Sc, Y, La, Lu; AM = Li, Na) in good yields. For smaller rare-earth metal centres such as scandium and lutetium, a Li : Ln ratio = 2.5 accomplished ate-free tris(amido) complexes Ln(NiPr2)3(THF). The chloro-bridged dimeric derivatives [Ln(NiPr2)2(μ-Cl)(THF)]2 (Ln = Sc, Y, La, Lu) could be obtained in high yields for Li : Ln = 1.6-2. The product resulting from the Li : La = 1 : 1.6 reaction revealed a crystal structure containing two different molecules in the crystal lattice, [La(NiPr2)2(THF)(μ-Cl)]2·La(NiPr2)3(THF)2. Recrystallization of the chloro-bridged dimers led to the formation of the monomeric species Ln(NiPr2)2Cl(THF)2 (Ln = Sc, Lu) and La(NiPr2)3(THF)2. The reaction of YCl3 and LDA with Li : Y = 2 in the absence of THF gave a bimetallic ate complex LiY(NiPr2)4 with a chain-like structure. For scandium, the equimolar reactions with LDA or NDA yielded crystals of tetrametallic mono(amido) species, {[Sc(NiPr2)Cl2(THF)]2(LiCl)}2 and [Sc(NiPr2)Cl2(THF)]4, respectively. Depending on the Ln(iii) size, AM, and presence of a donor solvent, ate complexes (AM)Ln(NiPr2)4(THF)n show distinct dynamic behaviour as revealed by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy. The presence of weak LnCH(iPr) β-agostic interactions, as indicated by Ln-N-C angles <105°, is corroborated by DFT calculations and NBO analysis.

Trinuclear rare-earth metal methylidene complexes with a Ln3(μ3-CH2)(μ3-Me)(μ2-Me)3 structural motif were synthesized by applying three protocols. Polymeric [LuMe3]n (1-Lu) reacts with the sterically demanding amine H[NSiMe3(Ar)] (Ar = C6H3iPr2-2,6) in tetrahydrofuran via methane elimination to afford isolable monomeric [NSiMe3(Ar)]LuMe2(thf)2 (4-Lu). The formation of trinuclear rare-earth metal tetramethyl methylidene complexes [NSiMe3(Ar)]3Ln3(μ3-CH2)(μ3-Me)(μ2-Me)3(thf)3 (7-Ln; Ln = Y, Ho, Lu) via reaction of [LnMe3]n (1-Ln; Ln = Y, Ho, Lu) with H[NSiMe3(Ar)] is proposed to occur via an "intermediate" species of the type [NSiMe3(Ar)]LnMe2(thf)x and subsequent C-H bond activation. Applying Lappert's concept of Lewis base-induced methylaluminate cleavage, compounds [NSiMe3(Ar)]Ln(AlMe4)2 (5-Ln; Ln = Y, La, Nd, Ho) were converted into methylidene complexes 7-Ln (Ln = Y, Nd, Ho) in the presence of tetrahydrofuran. Similarly, tetramethylgallate complex [NSiMe3(Ar)]Y(GaMe4)2 (6-Y) could be employed as a synthesis precursor for 7-Y. The molecular composition of complexes 4-Ln, 5-Ln, 6-Y and 7-Ln was confirmed by elemental analyses, FTIR spectroscopy, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy (except for holmium derivatives) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The Tebbe-like reactivity of methylidene complex 7-Nd with 9-fluorenone was assessed affording oxo complex [NSiMe3(Ar)]3Nd3(μ3-O)(μ2-Me)4(thf)3 (8-Nd). The synthesis of 5-Ln yielded [NSiMe3(Ar)]2Ln(AlMe4) (9-Ln; Ln = La, Nd) as minor side-products, which could be obtained in moderate yields when homoleptic Ln(AlMe4)3 were treated with two equivalents of K[NSiMe3(Ar)].

As previously shown for lutetium and yttrium, 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (C5Me5 = Cp*)-bearing rare-earth metal dimethyl half-sandwich complexes [Cp*LnMe2]3 are now also accessible for holmium, dysprosium, and terbium via tetramethylaluminato cleavage of [Cp*Ln(AlMe4)2] with diethyl ether (Ho, Dy) and tert-butyl methyl ether (TBME) (Tb). C–H-bond activation and ligand redistribution reactions are observed in case of terbium and are dominant for the next larger-sized gadolinium, as evidenced by the formation of mixed methyl/methylidene clusters [(Cp*Ln)5(CH2)(Me)8] and metallocene dimers [Cp*2Ln(AlMe4)]2 (Ln = Tb, Gd). Applying TBME as a “cleaving” reagent can result in both TBME deprotonation and ether cleavage, as shown for the formation of the 24-membered macrocycle [(Cp*Gd)2(Me)(CH2OtBu)2(AlMe4)]4 or monolanthanum complex [Cp*La(AlMe4){Me3Al(CH2)OtBu}] and monoyttrium complex [Cp*Y(AlMe4)(Me3AlOtBu)], respectively. Complexes [Cp*Ln(AlMe4)2] (Ln = Ho, Dy, Tb, Gd) and [Cp*LnMe2]3 (Ln = Ho, Dy) are applied in isoprene and 1,3-butadiene polymerization, upon activation with borates [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] and [PhNHMe2][B(C6F5)4], as well as borane B(C6F5)3. The trans-directing effect of AlMe3 in the binary systems [Cp*Ln(AlMe4)2]/borate is revealed and further corroborated by the fabrication of high-cis-1,4 polybutadiene (97%) with “aluminum-free” [Cp*DyMe2]3/[Ph3C][B(C6F5)4]. The formation of multimetallic active species is supported by the polymerization activity of pre-isolated cluster [(Cp*Ho)3Me4(CH2)(thf)2].