PN ligands in lanthanide chemistry

AbstractThe coordination chemistry of inorganic amides in Group 3 and lanthanide chemistry is discussed. Three different ligand systems (phosphino‐amides, bis(phosphino)amides, and bis(phosphinimino)methanides) that consist of one or more PN units were used. In this series the steric demand of the ligands is increased in a stepwise fashion and the negative charge is delocalized over more atoms. These properties were used in the design of new lanthanide complexes. For all three compounds the synthesis of the alkali metal derivatives is reported first, followed by the reaction of the alkali metal salts with various lanthanide trichlorides. Further reactions of the obtained lanthanide complexes as well as their application as catalysts are discussed. Most of the reported complexes show a dynamic behavior in solution. In phosphinoamide and bis(phosphino)amide complexes, in which the phosphorus atom is in oxidation state +3, there is always a weak coordination of the phosphorus atom to the lanthanide atom observed. In bis(phosphinimino)methanide complexes, in which the phosphorus atom is in oxidation state +5, no such interaction is noticeable. Instead a weak coordination of the methin