Synthesis of Dialkylscandium Complexes Supported by β-Diketiminato Ligands and Activation with Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane

Treatment of ScCl 3 ·THF 3 with the lithium salts of the ligands ArNC(R)CHC(R)NAr, where Ar = 2,6-Pr i -C 6 H 3 and R = CH 3 and Bu t, gives LScCl 2 · n THF derivatives (R = CH 3, n = 1, 1a; R = Bu t, n = 0, 1b ). These compounds can be derivatized by alkylation with methyllithium or benzylpotassium. The dibenzyl compound prepared from 1a, when treated with B(C 6 F 5 ) 3, gives an ion pair, 4, in which the cationic scandium center is stabilized by a η 6 -aryl interaction with the abstracted borate benzyl group.