Chemical Properties
white crystal(s); air and moisture sensitive [STR93]
Uses
Used as reducing agent for alkenes, organohalogen compounds, and organoheteroatom oxides; catalyst for
hydrogenation and isomerization of alkenes.
Preparation
Because Cp3La is sensitive to air and moisture, the preparative procedure and all subsequent operations on the compound must be carried out with Schlenk techniques under purified argon. The following procedure has proven efficacious: to a suspension of anhydrous Lanthanum(III) Chloride in THF was added 4-5 equiv of sodium cyclopentadienide in THF; the mixture was refluxed with stirring for 4 h; the solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and the dry residue was transferred to a sublimation apparatus; on heating at 250-260 °C/10-3-10-4 mmHg, Cp3La sublimed as a white crystalline solid. Alternatively, the residue can be recrystallized from THF to afford Cp3La(THF) as colorless crystals.
General Description
Atomic number of base material: 57 Lanthanum
reaction suitability
core: lanthanum
reagent type: catalyst
