Reactivity of a Sterical Flexible Pentabenzylcyclopentadienyl Samarocene

Reactivity studies of the classical divalent lanthanide compound [Cp$^{Bz5}$$_{2}$Sm] (Cp$^{Bz5}$ = pentabenzylcyclopentadienyl-anion) towards diphenyl dichalcogenides and d-element carbonyl complexes led to remarkable results. In the compounds obtained, a different number of Sm-C(phenyl) interactions and differently oriented benzyl groups were observed, suggesting—despite the preference of these interactions in [Cp$^{Bz5}$$_{2}$Sm] described in previous studies—a flexible orientation of the benzyl groups and thus a variable steric shielding of the metal center by the ligand. The obtained compounds are either present as monometallic complexes (reduction of the dichalcogenides) or tetrametallic bridged compounds in the case of the d/f-element carbonyl complexes.