Preparation
Ytterbium(III) Trifluoromethanesulfonate is prepared by addition of an excess of ytterbium(III) oxide (commercially available, 99.9%) to an aqueous
solution of Trifluoromethanesulfonic Acid (50% v/v) followed by heating at boiling for 0.5-1 h. The mixture is then purified
by filtration to remove unreacted ytterbium oxide; residual water is removed under reduced pressure. The resultant hydrate is
dried by heating under vacuum (1 mmHg) at 180 to 200 °C for 48 h. The reagent is then used without further purification.[1] The
organoytterbium reagent is prepared at -78 °C from Yb(OTf)3 and organolithiums or organomagnesiums.[2]
References
1. Forsberg, J. H.; Spaziano, V. T.; Balasubramanian, T. M.; Liu, G. K.; Kinsley, S. A.; Duckworth, C. A.; Poteruca, J. J.; Brown, P. S.;
Miller, J. L. JOC 1987, 52, 1017.
2. Molander, G. A.; Burkhardt, E. R.; Weinig, P. JOC 1990, 55, 4990
