title: Rare-earth metal π-complexes of reduced arenes, alkenes, and alkynes: bonding, electronic structure, and comparison with actinides and other electropositive metals.
abstract: Rare-earth metal complexes of reduced π ligands are reviewed with an emphasis on their electronic structure and bonding interactions. This perspective discusses reduced carbocyclic and acyclic π ligands; in certain categories, when no example of a rare-earth metal complex is available, a closely related actinide analogue is discussed. In general, rare-earth metals have a lower tendency to form covalent interactions with π ligands compared to actinides, mainly uranium. Despite predominant ionic interactions in rare-earth chemistry, covalent bonds can be formed with reduced carbocyclic ligands, especially multiply reduced arenes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 607 Charles E Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. pld@chem.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Wenliang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Paula L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Diaconescu