title: Octakis(tert-butoxo)dicerium(IV) [Ce2(O(t)Bu)8]: synthesis, characterization, decomposition, and reactivity.
abstract: An advanced synthesis for the homometallic derivative [Ce2(O(t)Bu)8] (1) starting from [Ce(O(t)Bu)2{N(SiMe3)2}2] was developed. Structural characterization of a cerium(IV) complex and its decomposition products confirmed the coexistence of both ether elimination and Ce-O bond cleavage processes, which lead to the formation of [Ce3O(O(t)Bu)10] and [Ce3(O(t)Bu)11] (2) derivatives, respectively. Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy under strict exclusion of moisture enabled insight into the decomposition processes in noncoordinating solvents and at elevated temperature. In addition, structural analysis of the heterovalent 2 and of two new complexes of the general formula [Ce2(O(t)Bu)8(L)] [L = HO(t)Bu (3), OCPh2 (4)] is described.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Cologne , Greinstraße 6, D-50939 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schläfer
authors.forename: Wieland
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tyrra
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathur