While gas-phase studies suggest that both silver-mediated extrusion-insertion (ExIn) and base-mediated condensation reactions operate for the generation of N-phenyl-benzamide anion from the benzoate anion, the condensation reaction is favoured in the solution phase.

Excision of the carbon-centred Sc cluster {CSc₆} from solid {CSc₆}I₁₂Sc gave NMR and EPR spectroscopic evidence for a red cluster {CSc₆}I_mL_n (L = solvent ligands) together with isolated and structurally characterised [Sc(L)₆]I₃ (L = DMA or THF).

New heteroleptic lanthanide complexes with oxybenzo[h]quinoline ligands were obtained and their photoluminescent (PL) properties were studied. The PL spectrum of the La compound contains phosphorescent bands with a lifetime over 10 ms. The complexes of Nd, Sm and Yb display metal-centered luminescent f–f transitions.

The structure and synthesis of a low-valent β-diketiminate Sm^II complex are reported and its redox reactivity with various reagents was investigated. With a rich redox reactivity, the Sm^II complex is an easy-to-prepare, attractive reducing agent that is soluble in apolar organic solvents.

Dinuclear silver formamidinates and polynuclear, mainly trinuclear, silver pyrazolates were successfully synthesized in good yield by treating silver(i) oxide with the corresponding formamidines (FormH) or pyrazoles (pzH) either in pyridine or acetonitrile.

Trofimenko’s original protocol (aqueous KTp^R,R′/glacial acetic acid) is a suitable method to obtain the acid form of various scorpionate ligands as long as the pyrazolyl ring 3-substituent provides sufficient steric protection to the acidic N–H proton of H(Tp^R,R′); structure of H(Tp^tBu,Me)

New complexes of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ with pentafluorophenylacetic acid have been studied. During synthesis under hydrothermal conditions, polymer structures are formed, while the introduction of phenanthroline and Cd²⁺ makes it possible to obtain molecular complexes. A change in the structure leads to significant changes in the luminescent properties.

The synthesis of the first C₅Ph₅ complex of an actinide metal, (η⁵-C₅Ph₅)UI₂(THF)₂, is described. Additionally, X-ray crystal structures of two alkali-metal salts of the [C₅Ph₅]¹⁻ anion are reported.

Two dodecanuclear coordination compounds of trivalent rare earth metal cations show short interatomic RE–RE distances due to bridging O atoms from hydroxide and formate anions. Magnetic susceptibility and structural details suggest single molecule magnetic behaviour.

Compound [K(dhts)(thf)]₂ bearing the 6-membered 3,5-bis(dimethylsilyl)-2,2,4,4,6,6-hexamethyl-1,3,5,2,4,6-triazatrisilinan-1-ido (dhts) ligand engages in salt metathesis with cerous chloride to afford Ce(dhts)₃(thf). Redox treatment of the cerous silylamide with trityl chloride accomplishes Ce(dhts)₃Cl (depicted) featuring a rare example of a heteroleptic ceric silylamide complex.

Reaction of the open samarocene [(η⁵-pdl′)₂Sm(thf)₂] (1-Sm) and open ytterbocene [(η⁵-pdl′)₂Yb(thf)] (1-Yb) towards N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) and imidazoline-2-thione has been evaluated. While adduct formation occurs readily for 1-Sm, unexpected side reactions have been encountered for 1-Yb.

Scorpionate nitrogen-donor trispyrazolylborate (Tp) ligands are well-known in transition metal chemistry. However, in lanthanide chemistry the literature is dominated by substituted analogues of Tp and the chemistry of the unsubstituted Tp ligand has remained largely unexplored. We discovered as part of a different research project that the [Ln(Tp)₂]⁺ unit is both highly reactive and capable of supporting a variety of co-ligands. This paper builds on this discovery to present rational synthetic routes to a series of heteroleptic lanthanide complexes, [Ln(Tp)₂(X)].

Reactions of aluminum and indium halides including chlorides, bromides and iodides with pyrazine (pyz) lead to one-dimensional coordination polymers and molecular complexes with coordination numbers ranging from four to six. The degree of linkage of pyrazine discriminates between polymers and complexes.

We report the synthesis and characterisation of a series of heteroleptic yttrium and dysprosium 1,2,4-tris(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl complexes containing halide, borohydride or allyl co-ligands. Attempts to abstract co-ligands and install weakly coordination anions to generate lanthanoid metallocenium cations were unsuccessful, which we attribute to side reactions with 1,2,4-tris(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl rings.

The new compound Ba₂₁[BN₂]₁₁[C₂]₄ was obtained by a high-temperature solid-state reaction crystallising in a complex novel crystal structure. The shiny black crystals are sensitive to oxygen, water and electromagnetic radiation. Ba₂₁[BN₂]₁₁[C₂]₄ is a subvalent compound with one excess electron per formula unit, similar to binary barium subnitrides. In the extended unit cell of Ba₂₁[BN₂]₁₁[C₂]₄, the [BN₂]³⁻ and [C₂]²⁻ anions provide coordination numbers of 7 to 9 for the Ba²⁺ cations with their terminal atoms by end-on and side-on coordination.

Samarium(ii) formamidinates are promising candidates for studying reductive transformations. As opposed to samarocenes(ii), they provide a flexible coordination sphere that can fit the steric demands of a reduced substrate. Reduction of phosphine(arsine) chalcogenides has resulted in mono- and dichalcogenide complexes capable of co-crystallization. Long-lived S-centered radicals are expected to be the key reactive species in these processes.

Up-conversion particles convert visible light into UV-C radiation upon illumination. The obtained UV spectrum is capable of inactivating exposed microorganisms. If particles are in the shade, UV radiation is no longer generated, which means that the user is not exposed to harmful UV radiation.

[I(py)₂]I₃·2I₂ selectively iodinates electron-rich phenol groups of calix[4]arenes. Less electron-rich aryl rings remain unaffected. Self-inclusion of iodinated calix[4]arenes occurs in the solid state.