A simple one-pot route to stable formamidinatoiodidolanthanoid(III) complexes from lanthanoid metals.

A number of formamidinatoiodidolanthanoid(III) complexes, [Ln(DFForm)2I(thf)2] and [Ln(DFForm)I2(thf)3] (DFFormH = N,N'-bis(2,6-difluorophenyl)formamidine) and [Ln(DippForm)I2(thf)3] (DippFormH = N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)formamidine) have been synthesized in good yields by one-pot direct reactions of the corresponding free metals with iodine and DFFormH or DippFormH in suitable ratios and are stable to rearrangement.