(μ-1,2-Dimethoxyethane-κ2O:O′)bis[(1,2-dimethoxyethane-κ2O,O′)tris(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-4-oxopent-2-en-2-olato-κ2O,O′)cerium(III)]
A previous analysis [Fatilaet al.(2012).Dalton Trans.41, 1352–1362] of the title complex, [Ce2(C5HF6O2)6(C4H10O2)3], had identified it as Ce(hfac)3(dme)1.5according to the1H NMR integration [hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate (1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-4-oxopent-2-en-2-olate) and dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane]; however, it was not possible to determine the coordination environment unambiguously. The structural data presented here reveal that the complex is a binuclear species located on a crystallographic inversion center. Each CeIIIion is coordinated to three hfac ligands, one bidentate dme ligand and one monodentate (bridging) dme ligand, thus giving a coordination number of nine (CN = 9) to each CeIIIion. The atoms of the bridging dme ligand are unequally disordered over two sets of sites. In addition, in two of the –CF3groups, the F atoms are rotationally disordered over two sets of sites. This is the first crystal structure of a binuclear lanthanide β-diketonate with a bridging dme ligand.