Reduction of hexaazatrinaphthylenes by divalent lanthanocenes leads to ligand-based multiconfigurational properties.

Reduction of hexaazatrinaphthylene (HAN) and its hexamethyl derivative with [Cp* 2 Sm(THF) 2 ] or [Cp* 2 Yb(OEt 2 )] produces [(Cp* 2 Ln) 3 (R 6 HAN)] (Ln = Sm, Yb; R = H, Me), where the heterocyclic ligand forms as a trianion. The magnetism and electronic structure of these compounds reflect unusual multiconfigurational character within the reduced ligand but not the lanthanide ions.