Synthesis of yttrium complexes that contain the [NON]2- ligand, [(t-Bu-d6-N-o-C6H4)2O]2-

Li-2[NON] ([(t-Bu-d(6)-N-o-C6H4)(2)O](2-) = [NON](2-)) reacts with YCl3 in THF to give [NON]YCl(THF)(2), from which [NON]Y[CH(SiMe3)(2)](THF) (2a) and [NON]Y(CH2SiMe3)(THF)(2) (2b) could be prepared straightforwardly. An X-ray structure of:2a showed it to be a distorted five-coordinate species in which the nitrogen atoms of the [NON](2-) ligand occupy (very approximately) apical sites in a trigonal bipyramid. Both 2a and 2b proved to be relatively unreactive toward molecular hydrogen or ethylene.