Synthesis and structure of phospholyl- and arsolylthulium(ii) complexes

Reaction of thulium diiodide with substituted phospholide and arsolide salts respectively afforded stable bis(phospholyl)- and bis(arsolyl)thulium(II) complexes, that were characterised by multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystal structures, thus showing the beneficial effects of the steric and electronic properties of crowded phospholyl and arsolyl ligands for the stabilisation of divalent thulium.