Potassium, Ytterbium(II), and Samarium(III) Alkoxide Complexes Containing the Tris((2-dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl)methoxide Ligand: Synthesis and Structures

The reaction of tris((2-dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl)methanol ((2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₃COH) with potassium hydride in THF at –35°C affords dimeric alkoxide {[(2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₃CO]K(THF)}₂ (I) in a yield of 90%. The reaction of compound I with YbI₂(THF)₂ (1 : 1, 25°C) gives the Yb(II) alkoxyiodide complex {[(2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₃CO]Yb(μ-I)(THF)₂}₂ (II) in a yield of 57%. Complex II in the crystalline state is dimeric due to two bridging iodide ligands. Unlike the Yb(II) compound, the exchange reaction of complex I with SmI₂(THF)₂ (1 : 1, 25°C) in THF followed by the addition of dimethoxyethane (DME) involves the oxidation of the metal to form the trivalent samarium complex [(2-Me₂NCH₂C₆H₄)₃CO]₂SmI (III), which is isolated in a yield of 60%. The molecular structures of the complexes are determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) (CIF files CCDC nos. 2259700 (I), 2259701 (II), and 2259702 (III)).