A mononuclear divalent ytterbium hydrido complex supported by a super-bulky scorpionate ligand.

The first mononuclear divalent ytterbium hydride complex [(TpAd,iPr)Yb(H)(THF)] (TpAd,iPr = hydrotris(3-adamantyl-5-isopropyl-pyrazolyl)borate) (2) bearing a terminal hydrido ligand was obtained by hydrogenolysis of the benzyl precursor in hexane. Complex 2 exhibited two different reaction patterns towards allenes: Yb-H addition with cyclohexylallene and deprotonation of 1,1-dimethylallene.