SYNTHESIS OF ETA(1) AND ETA(5) COMPLEXES OF SAMARIUM(II) WITH BENZOPHOSPHOLYL LIGANDS

Reaction of bis(cyclopentadienyl)-2,3-dimethylzirconaindole, obtained by addition of 2-butyne to benzynezirconocene, with PCl3, affords 1-chlora-2,3-dimethylphosphindole (1-chloro 2,3-dimethylbenzophosphole) in a one-pot reaction and in moderate yield. Treatment of this compound with potassium and subsequent reaction with [SmI2(THF)(2)] afforded bis(eta(5)-2,3-dimethylphosphindolyl)bis(tetrahydrofuran)samarium. Treatment of the P-P bonded bis(dibenzophospholyl) with Sm metal activated by HgCl2, also affords a complex of Sm-II that was shown to be bis(eta(1)-dibenzophospholyl) tetrakis(tetrahydrofuran)samarium, a sigma-Sm phosphide complex. Both complexes were analysed by X-ray crystallography.