Synthesis, properties and X-ray crystal structure of bis(decamethyllanthanocene)-anthracene

Reaction of [Cp2∗La(μ-Cl)2K(dme)2] (Cp∗ = C5Me5) 1 with disodium anthracenide [Na2(C14H10)] 2 in toluene in the molar ratio 2:1 results in the formation of [Cp2∗La]2[μ-η3:η3-(C14H10)]·2C6H5CH33, which was characterized by elemental analyses, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as X-ray crystal structure determination. The title compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with Z = 1, a = 10.471(2), b = 11.234(2), c = 11.382(3) A, and α = 81.22(2), β = 86.36(2), γ = 77.62(2)°, V = 1291.8(5) A3. The molecule contains two CP2∗ La moieties which are η3-coordinated to two of the aromatic rings from opposite sides of the anthracene ligand.