Lanthanide Carbene Halides through Protonolysis of Ln−N Bonds by Imidazolium Salts: Synthesis and Structure of Salicylaldiminato-Functionalized N-Heterocyclic Carbene Lanthanide Bromides

The three salicylaldiminato-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene lanthanide bromides L₂LnBr (Ln = Nd (2), Sm (3), Er (4); L = [3,5-^tBu₂-2-(O)C₆H₂CHNCH₂CH₂(C{NCHCHNⁱPr})]) with early to late lanthanide metals were conveniently synthesized in moderate yields by a protonolysis strategy via the direct reaction of LiLn(NⁱPr₂)₄ with [H₂L]Br (1). All complexes were characterized by X-ray crystal determinations.