Tetrahydrofurfuroxides of Lanthanum, Praseodymium, Neodymium and Samarium

Abstract LnCl3·3RH, Ln(R)3, Ln(R′) (R)2, and Ln(R′)2(R) (where Ln = lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium; RH = tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol; R′ = OPri and OBut) were prepared under anhydrous conditions in benzene. These are light coloured solids, susceptible to hydrolysis and show marked ‘aging’ effects. LnCl3·3RH are soluble in ethanol and the parent alcohol but insoluble in benzene while the remaining complexes when freshly prepared are soluble in benzene. All of the above derivatives did not distil at ∼ 300°C/10−2 torr but decomposed. Infrared spectra were used to show that the organic moiety is complexed with the lanthanides. The observed electronic shifts are possibly due to the development of slight covalent character in these lanthanide complexes compared to the lanthanideaquo ion.