Functionalised β-diketone assisted self-assembly of a hexanuclear yttrium oxo-hydroxo cluster

The reaction of YCl3 center dot 6H(2)O with ortho-hydroxydibenzoylmethane (HO-DBMH) in a 1:2 ratio, in methanol and in the presence of excess triethylamine as a base yielded a yellow precipitate which on crystallization from toluene or benzene/hexane afforded pale yellow block-like crystals. Single crystal X-ray diffraction of I revealed the formation of an interesting hexanuclear yttrium oxo-hydroxo cluster [Y-2(O-DBM)(6)(HO-DBM)(4)(mu(3)-OH)(2)(MeOH)(4)]; the core resembles a butterfly framework flanked by a lanthanide atom on each side. Ten phenolic beta-diketone ligands are present in the Cluster, which bridge the metal centers in both chelating and chelating-bridging fashions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.