Synthesis and crystal structure of the first lanthanide complex of N-confused porphyrin with an η ² agostic C–H interaction

The reaction of Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3.[LiCl(THF)3](x)(Ln = Yb and Er) with N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin (H2NCTPP) followed by Na(L(OMe))(L(OMe)=(eta5-C5H5)Co[P(=O)(OMe)2]) gives (NCTPP)Ln(L(OMe)), whose X-ray structures exhibit an eta2 agostic interaction between the metal centre and the inner C-H bond of the NCTPP ligand.