Reductive Disproportionation of CO2 with Bulky Divalent Samarium Complexes

The base-free divalent samarium complex Cptt2Sm (1; Cptt = 1,3-(tBu)2(C5H3)) has been synthesized in diethyl ether by salt metathesis of SmI2. Crystals of 1 suitable for X-ray study have been obtained by sublimation at 116 °C under reduced pressure. The dissolution of 1 in thf and pyridine solution leads to the solvent adducts Cptt2Sm(thf)2 (3) and Cptt2Sm(py) (4), respectively, while drying 3 under reduced pressure yields CpttSm(thf) (5). The reaction of CO2 with the base-free divalent samarium complexes Cptt2Sm (1) and Cpttt2Sm (2; Cpttt =1,2,4-(tBu)3(C5H2)) leads to the clean formation of bridged carbonate samarium dimers [Cpttt2Sm]2(μ-CO3) (7) and [Cptt2Sm]2(μ-CO3) (8). This is indicative of the reductive disproportionation of CO2 in both cases with release of CO. This contrasts with the formation of the oxalate-bridged samarium dimer reported from the reaction of CO2 with the Cp*2Sm(thf)2 complex. Otherwise, the reaction with CO does not proceed with the bulky complexes, while traces of O2 have led t...