Synthesis and crystal structure of [(C8H8)3(C6H5CH2C5H4)Nd2K(THF)3]

NdCl3reacted with C6H5CH2C5H4Na in the ratio 1:1 at -78°C giving [C6H5CH2C5H4NdCl2· nTHF], which then was reacted with C8H8K2/THF to yield the title complex [(C8H8)3(C6H5CH2C5H4)Nd2K(THF)3] (C6H5CH2C5H4= benzylcyclopentadienyl). The crystal structure of the Nd complex was determined by X-ray diffraction and revealed that the benzyl group is coordinated to the potassium atom to form a new type of trinuclear complex [(η8-C8H8)Nd(μ2-η8-C8H8K(THF) (η3-C6H5CH2-μ2— η5— C5H4)Nd (THF)2(η8-C8H8)]. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd