Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of some lanthanide organometallics

Organo lanthanides with reactive metal-carbon bonds are obtained by direct synthesis of the metal (powder) and a hydrocarbon in ether medium, like with alkali metals. Two types of synthesis are envisaged: formation of covalent bonds by opening cycles, only biphenylene is reactive enough in regard to ytterbium and samarium, these organometallic compounds can also be prepared by the classical way, i.e. reaction of 2.2'-dilithio biphenyl on rare earth halogenides and coupling of 6.6-dimethylfulvene leading to dicyclopentadienyl compounds with Sm and Yb. The reactivity of these complexes is studied by catalysis of ethylene polymerization