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.