Ytterbium Complexes with Redox-Active N , N -Chelating Ligands

1,2-Bis[(2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-methylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (Ar BIG -bian) reacts with an excess of ytterbium metal in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) to afford solvent-free ytterbium complex of Ar BIG -bian dianion, [(Ar BIG -bian)Yb]. The reaction of [(Ar BIG -bian)Yb] with 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) (1 to 2) in DME proceeds with the electron transfer from the metal to the bpy and results in ytterbium(III) derivative [(Ar BIG -bian)Yb(bpy) 2 ], containing both neutral and radical-anionic bpy ligands. The newly prepared compounds were characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of [(Ar BIG -bian)Yb(bpy) 2 ] was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.