Synthesis and crystal structure of a homoleptic, alkali metal-free lanthanide(II) phosphide complex

Thermal treatment of [Sm{P(CH[SiMe3]2)(C6H4-2-CH2NMe2)}2(THF)] (2) under reduced pressure for several hours leads to complete de-solvation and isolation of the homoleptic phosphide complex [Sm{P(CH[SiMe3]2)(C6H4-2-CH2NMe2)}2] (3). X-ray crystallography shows complex 3 to be monomeric, with a four-coordinate, distorted tetrahedral Sm(II) center. The close contacts between Sm and the ipso-carbon atoms of the ligands observed in 2 are absent in 3.