Mono-β-diketiminate supported cerium(III) complex: Synthesis, characterization and reactivity

Mono-β-diketiminate cerium(III) complex 1 was easily accessible from the anhydrous metal tribromide and LNa (L = N,N-2,6-diisopropylphenyl-2,4-pentanediimine anion) in THF at room temperature. Interaction of 1 with 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pyridine and 4-dimethylaminopyridine gave the ligand substitution products 2, 3 and 4 in good yield. All of those complexes exhibited molecular structure similar to that of 1, and the coordination environment around cerium center was the distorted octahedral geometry. The reaction of 1 with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide gave dinuclear complex 5 with an unusual triple bromine bridge in the molecule. It was worth noting that the reaction of 1 with one equivalent of cyclopentadienylsodium (CpNa) did not afford the mixed-ligand complex but the undesirable ligand redistributed product Cp2CeL (6). Treatment of 1 with arylamido lithium reagent whereas obtained the dissociated product 7. All the complexes were well characterized and further broadened the utility of β-diketiminate ligands.