Synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of amine bis(phenolate) lanthanide complexes containing alkali metal cation

Three lanthanide “ate” complexes L2YbM(THF)n supported by amine bis(phenolate) ligand [L=Me2NCH2CH2N{CH2-(2-O-C6H2-But2-2,4)}2; M=Li, n=2 (1); M=Na, n=2 (2); M=K, n=3 (3)] were synthesized by the metathesis reactions of LM2 with anhydrous YbCl3 in 2:1 molar ratio in high yield. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The influence of the alkali metal ions on the molecular structure of these lanthanide complexes has been elucidated.