Variability of (ring centroid)–Ln–(ring centroid) angles in the mixed ligand C5Me5/C8H8 complexes (C5Me5)Ln(C8H8) and [(C5Me5)Yb(THF)](μ-η8∶η8-C8H8)[Yb(C5Me5)]

The trivalent mixed ligand metallocene complexes (C5Me5)Ln(C8H8) have been structurally characterized for Ln = Sm, Dy, Er, and Yb and compared with the known lutetium analog to study the effect of radial size and fn electron configuration on the (C5Me5 ring centroid)–Ln–(C8H8 ring centroid) angles. Analogous angles were also examined in the mixed ligand, bimetallic, partially-solvated complex [(C5Me5)Yb(THF)](μ-η8∶η8-C8H8)[Yb(C5Me5)].