Trivalent [(C5Me5)2(THF)Ln]2(μ-η2:η2-N2) complexes as reducing agents including the reductive homologation of CO to a ketene carboxylate, (μ-η4-O2C-C=C=O)2-

The [Z(2)Ln(THF)](2)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)-N-2) complexes (Z = monoanionic ligand) generated by reduction of dinitrogen with trivalent lanthanide salts and alkali metals are strong reductants in their own right and provide another option in reductive lanthanide chemistry. Hence, lanthanide-based reduction chemistry can be effected in a diamagnetic trivalent system using the dinitrogen reduction product, [(C5Me5)(2)(THF) La](2)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)-N-2), 1, readily obtained from [(C5Me5)(2)La][BPh4], KC8, and N-2. Complex 1 reduces phenazine, cyclooctatetraene, anthracene, and azobenzene to form [(C5Me5)(2)La](2)[mu-eta(3):eta(3)-(C12H8N2)], 2, (C5Me5)La(C8H8), 3, [(C5Me5)(2)La](2)[mu-eta(3):eta(3)-(C14H10)], 4, and [(C5Me5) La(mu-eta(2)-(PhNNPh)(THF)] 2, 5, respectively. Neither stilbene nor naphthalene are reduced by 1, but 1 reduces CO to make the ketene carboxylate complex {[(C5Me5)(2)La](2)[mu-eta(4)-O2C-C=C=O](THF)}(2), 6, that contains CO-derived carbon atoms completely free of oxygen.