Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Magnetic Properties of Lanthanide Arsolyl Sandwich Complexes

A series of trivalent lanthanide sandwich complexes [(eta(5)-C4R4As)Ln(eta(8)-C8H8)] using three different arsolyl ligands are reported. The complexes were obtained via salt elimination reactions between potassium arsolyl salts and lanthanide precursors [LnI(COT)(THF)(2)] (Ln = Sm, Dy, Er; COT = eta(8)-C8H8). The resulting compounds exhibit classical sandwich complex structures with one notable exception. Characterization was conducted in both the solid state using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and in solution for the Sm compounds using NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of an Er complex were investigated, revealing distinctive single-molecule-magnet behavior characterized by an energy barrier of U-eff = 323.3 K. Theoretical calculations were employed to support and interpret the experimental findings, with a comparative analysis performed against previously reported complexes.