Metallotricycle of Lanthanide Supported by a Bridging Diamide: Syntheses and Molecular Structures of {Li(THF) 3 [LnCl( μ 2 ‐ trans ‐1,2‐(NSiMe 3 ) 2 C 6 H 10 )( μ 2 ‐Cl)]} 2 ·2THF (Ln=Yb, Nd)

The reactions of dilithium salt of trans ‐1,2‐bis(trimethylsilylamino)cyclohexane with anhydrous lanthanide trichlorides LnCl 3 (Ln=Yb, Nd) in THF afforded the dianionic binuclear tricycles of lanthanide chlorides {Li(THF) 3 [LnCl( µ 2 ‐ trans ‐1,2‐(NSiMe 3 ) 2 C 6 H 10 )( ( 2 ‐Cl)]} 2 ·2THF (Ln=Yb 1 , Nd 2 ) in moderate yields. Both of the bridged complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Crystal structural analysis shows that the two complexes are the analogues which have a tricyclic framework built by two bridged lanthanide metals, four nitrogens and four carbons from two diamide ligands. Each lanthanide metal coordinates to three nitrogen atoms and two chlorines to form a distorted trigonal bipyramid and connects with a lithium by a bridging chlorine.