Trinuclear Lutetium(III) Cyclopentadienyl Complex with the 2,2'-Bipyridine Dianion

The reaction of lutetium cyclopentadienyl anthracenide complex [(C₅H₅)Lu(C₁₄H₁₀)(THF)₂] with 1 equiv. of 2,2'-bipyridine in THF gives the trinuclear complex [{(η⁵-C₅H₅)Lu}₃(μ₂-Bipy)₃] (I), containing a 2,2'-bipyridine dianion. The complex was isolated as a powder with the composition I·0.1(C₁₄H₁₀)·0.8(C₇H₈). The recrystallization from a toluene/hexane mixture resulted in the crystals of I·0.084(C₁₄H₁₀)·0.831(C₇H₈)·0.500(C₆H₁₄), which were studied by X-ray diffraction (monoclinic group P2₁/c; CCDC no. 2311508). Complex I has an unusual μ₂-κ²N¹,N^1':η⁴N¹,C²,C^2',N^1'-bridging coordination of the dianion.