Diphenylphosphido complexes of the lanthanides: reactions of compounds [Ln{N(SiMe3)2}3](Ln = La or Eu) or [Ln{N(SiMe3)2}3(Ph3PO)](Ln = La, Eu, or Y) with Ph2PH to give [Ln{N(SiMe3)2}2(PPh2)] or [Ln{N(SiMe3)2}2(PPh2)(Ph3PO)]

Abstract

[LnL₃][Ln = La or Eu, L = N(SiMe₃)₂] reacts with Ph₂PH to give [LnL₂(PPh₂)] with elimination of HL. The reaction is most rapid for Eu, slower for La, and immeasurably slow for Y. Reaction of [LnL₃(Ph₃PO)](Ln = La, Eu, or Y) with Ph₂PH gives [LnL₂(PPh₂)(Ph₃PO)], and is more rapid than the reaction between [LnL₃] and Ph₂PH. These extremely air-sensitive products have been characterized by n.m.r. spectroscopy (¹H or ³¹P).