Synthesis and structure of the first holmium and erbium diiodide complexes of composition LLnI(2) (Ln=Ho, Er)

Two new diiodide complexes of stoichiometry LLnI(2) [Ln = Ho (1), Er (2)] with the beta-diketiminato ligand 2-{[2-(diethylamino) ethyl]amino}-4-{[2-(diethylamino)ethyl]imino}pent-2-ene have been synthesized by the reaction of the lithium salt of the ligand with the corresponding. triiodides. The complexes are thermally stable and soluble in common organic solvents. The X-ray structural and elemental analysis show that LLnI(2) is neutral, and as well free of solvent and lithium salt. The complexes adopt a pseudo-octahedral geometry with the two iodine atoms arranged in trans position to each other. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003).