Exploring sulfur donor atom coordination chemistry with La(ii), Nd(ii), and Tm(ii) using a terphenylthiolate ligand

To expand the range of donor atoms known to stabilize 4fn5d1 Ln(ii) rare-earth metal (Ln) ions beyond the C, N, and O first row main group donor atoms, the Ln(iii) sulfur donor terphenylthiolate iodide complexes, Ln(III)(SAriPr6)(2)I (Ar-iPr6 = C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-Pr-i(3))(2), Ln = La, Nd) were reduced to form Ln(II)(SAriPr6)(2) complexes. These Ln(ii) species were structurally characterized, analyzed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and compared to Tm(SAriPr6)(2), which was synthesized from TmI2(DME)(3).