Lutetium Alkyls Supported by a Dearomatized and Functionalized Terpyridine Ligand: Preparation of Fluorinated Anilide Complexes

Lutetium alkyl complexes supported by a monoanionic, tridentate ligand system formed by the dearomatization and functionalization of a 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine have been reacted with 2,4,6-triphenylaniline or the fluorinated anilines 4-F-C6H4NH2 and C6F5NH2 to give both terminal mono(amide) and bis(amide) lutetium(III) complexes, which have been fully characterized. Both [tBu3(2′-Me3SiCH2)tpy]Lu[NH(2,4,6-Ph3-C6H2)]2 (3) and [tBu3(2′-Me3SiCH2)tpy](C5Me5)Lu(NHC6F5) (7) have been structurally characterized. The fluorinated anilide complexes [tBu3(2′-Me3SiCH2)tpy](C5Me5)Lu(NHArF) (ArF = 4-F-C6H4 (6), C6F5 (7)) provide rare examples of lutetium organofluorine complexes, with 7 featuring an intramolecular F···H−C interaction that is present in both solid state and solution.