SYNTHESIS, THERMAL-STABILITY AND X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF THE BIS(CYCLOPENTADIENYL)YTTERBIUM NAPHTHOXIDE DERIVATIVE (C5H5)2YB(OC10H7)(THF)

Cp3Yb (Cp = C5H5) reacts with a-naphthol (HNP) in THF to form Cp2Yb(NP)(THF) (1), which crystallizes in the space group P2(1)/n with unit cell dimensions a = 8.084(2), b = 15.996(6), c = 15.973(7) angstrom, beta = 98.95(3), V = 2040.3 angstrom and D(calc.) = 1.69 g cm-3 for Z = 4. Least-squares refinement based on 2242 observed reflections converged to a final R value of 0.081. The average Yb-C(Cp) distance is 2.60(2) angstrom and Yb-O(THF) and Yb-O(NP) distances are 2.30(1) and 2.06(1) angstrom, respectively. The title compound loses the coordinated THF molecule readily by heating under vacuum to give dimeric [Cp2Yb(NP)]2 (2), which undergoes disproportionation to give Cp3Yb and Yb(NP)3 on heating above 230-degrees-C.