Non-metallocene rare-earth organometallic derivatives: synthesis, structure and application in the catalysis of transformations of unsaturated substrates

The post-metallocene period of development of the chemistry of rare-earth organometallic compounds is analysed. The synthesis, structures and reactivities of complexes containing metal–carbon and metal–hydrogen bonds and stabilised by N-, P, and O-donor ligands are considered. The catalytic activities of these compounds in alkene polymerisation, hydroamination, hydrosilylation and hydroboration are discussed.