Molecular Ln(III)-H-E(II) Linkages (Ln=Y, Lu; E=Ge, Sn, Pb).

Following the alkane-elimination route, the reaction between tetravalent aryl tintrihydride Ar*SnH(3) and trivalent rare-earth-metallocene alkyls [Cp*(2) Ln(CH{SiMe(3) }(2) )] gave complexes [Cp*(2) Ln(μ-H)(2) SnAr*] implementing a low-valent tin hydride (Ln=Y, Lu; Ar*=2,6-Trip(2) C(6) H(3) , Trip=2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl). The homologous complexes of germanium and lead, [Cp*(2) Ln(μ-H)(2) EAr*] (E = Ge, Pb), were accessed via addition of low-valent [(Ar*EH)(2) ] to the rare-earth-metal hydrides [(Cp*(2) LnH)(2) ]. The lead compounds [Cp*(2) Ln(μ-H)(2) PbAr*] exhibit H/D exchange in reactions with deuterated solvents or dihydrogen.