Lanthanide compounds with fluorinated OC6F5 ligands: homo- and heterovalent complexes of Eu(II) and Eu(III).

The fluorinated phenoxide OC6F5 forms the stable Eu(II) and Eu(III) derivatives (DME)2Eu(mu-OC6F5)3Eu(mu-OC6F5)3Eu(DME)2 and (DME)2Eu(OC6F5)3, as well as the heterovalent product (DME)2Eu(mu-OC6F5)3Eu(DME)(OC6F5)2, in redox reactions of Eu with HOC6F5 or in proton-transfer reactions of HOC6F5 with Eu(SPh)2. The divalent complex crystallizes as a trimer with three bridging phenoxides bridging each pair of metals, with the terminal metals coordinating DME and the central metal ion encapsulated totally by O(C6F5) and dative fluoride interactions. The trivalent compound is monomeric with terminal phenoxide ligands and no Eu-F interactions. The heterovalent compound has clearly localized metal valence states and coordination features that mimic the homovalent species with the terminal OC6F5 bound to the Eu(III) ion, three bridging OR ligands spanning the Eu(II) and Eu(III) ions, and dative Eu(II)-F bonds. At elevated temperatures, these compounds decompose to give a mixture of solid-state fluoride phases.