Organometallic compounds of the lanthanides. 179. Synthesis and structural characterization of a mixed alkyl (benzhydryl, trimethylsilylmethyl) lutetium complex

The reaction of LuCl3(THF)(3) with 2 equiv of LiCH2SiMe3 and 1 equiv of KCHPh2 (1) affords Lu(CH2SiMe3)(2)(CHPh2)(THF)(2) (2)- X-ray structural analyses show the benzhydryl unit to be planar in 1, but bent in 2.