Lanthanides and actinides: Annual survey of their organometallic chemistry covering the year 2011

This review summarizes the progress in organo-f-element chemistry during the year 2011. A continuing trend in organolanthanide research is a strong emphasis on applications of organolanthanide complexes in homogeneous catalysis and, to a lesser extent, materials science. Roughly 24% of all relevant papers published in 2011 were in the area of organoactinide chemistry, which continues to produce exciting results. Quite remarkable is a steady increase in research activities focussed on lanthanide and actinide carbene complexes.

► The first molecular Y2+ complex has been synthesized.
► Various new carbene complexes of lanthanides and actinides have been reported.
► The activation of P4 by a uranium(III) complex has been achieved.
► Novel Ln-catalyzed co- and terpolymerizations have been reported.
► Three organo-f-element complexes have been identified as single-ion magnets.