Tridentate CCC-Pincer Bis(carbene)-Ligated Rare-Earth Metal Dibromides. Synthesis and Characterization

The first xylene-bridged bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) (bis(NHC))-ligated CCC-pincer rare-earth metal dibromides (PBNHC)LnBr(2)(THF) (PBNHC = 2,6-(2,4,6-Me3C6H2NCHCHNCCH2)(2)C6H3; 1: Ln = Sc; 2: Ln = Lu; 3: Lu = Sm) were prepared by in situ treatment of a THF suspension of 2,6-bis(1-mesitylimidazolium methyl)-1-bromobenzene dibromides ((PB-NHC-Br) center dot 2HBr) and lanthanide trichlorides (LnCl(3)) with dropwise addition of nBuLi at room temperature.