Isolation and Structural Characterization of a Polyhydrido Lanthanide Cluster Complex Consisting of “(C₅Me₄SiMe₃)LuH₂” Units

Reaction of the mixed alkyl/hydride complex [Cp‘Lu(CH 2 SiMe 3 )(μ-H)(THF)] 2 ( 2; Cp‘ = C 3 Me 4 SiMe 3 ) with 1 equiv of PhSiH 3 (per Lu) in benzene or OEt 2 afforded the polyhydrido cluster [Cp‘LuH 2 ] 4 ( 3 ), while hydrogenolysis of 2 with H 2 (1 atm) in THF yielded the THF-coordinated complex [Cp‘Lu(μ-H) 2 ] 4 (THF) ( 4 ). Complexes 3 and 4 are interconvertible, without decomposition or ligand redistribution.