Yttrium Anilido Hydride: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of the yttrium anilido hydride [LY(NH(DIPP))(μ-H)]2 (3; L = [MeC(N(DIPP))CHC(Me)(NCH2CH2NMe2)]−, DIPP = 2,6-iPr2C6H3)) are reported. The protonolysis reaction of the yttrium dialkyl [LY(CH2SiMe3)2] (1) with 1 equiv of 2,6-diisopropylaniline gave the yttrium anilido alkyl [LY(NH(DIPP))(CH2SiMe3)] (2), and a subsequent σ-bond metathesis reaction of 2 with 1 equiv of PhSiH3 offered the yttrium anilido hydride 3. The structure of 3 was characterized by X-ray crystallography, which showed that the complex is a μ-H dimer. 3 shows high reactivity toward a variety of unsaturated substrates, including imine, azobenzene, carbodiimide, isocyanide, ketone, and Mo(CO)6, giving some structurally intriguing products.