Homoleptic octahedral hexakis(trimethylphosphine oxide)lanthanide hexafluorophosphates, [Ln(Me3PO)6][PF6]3:: synthesis, structures and properties

The [Ln(Me3PO)(6)][PF6](3) (Ln = lanthanide except Pm) were prepared by reaction of LnCl(3) (.) nH(2)O with Me3PO and NH4PF6 in a 1:8:3 molar ratio in methanol. The complexes have been characterised by analysis, IR, H-1 and P-31 NMR spectroscopy and conductance measurements. The crystal structure of the complexes [Ln(Me3PO)(6)](PF6)(3) (Ln = Pr, Gd or Dy) have been determined and all contain the six-coordinate lanthanide cation in a close to octahedral geometry. Similar cations have been structurally characterised for Y (ICJ. Hill et al. Polyhedron 21 (2002) 445) and for the much smaller Sc. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.