Formation of lanthanoid( II ) and lanthanoid( III ) thiolate complexes derived from metals and organic disulfides: crystal structures of [{Ln(SAr)(µ-SAr)(thf) 3 } 2 ](Ln = Sm, Eu), [Sm(SAr) 3 (py) 2 (thf)] and [Yb(SAr) 3 (py) 3 ](Ar = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl; py = pyridine)

Reaction of metallic samarium, europium and ytterbium with bis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl) disulfide gave selectively LnII thiolate complexes, [{Ln(SAr)(µ-SAr)(thf)3}2] Ln = Sm 1; Ln = Eu 2 and [Yb(SAr)2(py)4]3, as well as LnIII thiolate complexes, [Ln(SAr)3(py)n(thf)3–n]: Ln = Sm, n= 3 4a; Ln = Sm, n= 2 4b; Ln = Yb, n= 3 5, (Ar = 2,4,6-trisopropylphenyl) depending on the stoichiometry of the lanthanoid and the disulfide; the molecular structures of 1, 2, 4b and 5 were determined by X-ray crystallography.