A series of yttrium, ytterbium, and lanthanum hexa-or heptacoordinate complexes were prepared and their catalytic activities tested in the hetero Diels–Alder reaction between crotonaldehyde and ethyl vinyl ether. It was found that a pKa below 7 of the ligand was necessary but not sufficient for catalytic activity. It was determined that the ligand should possess a perfluoromethyl-β-diketonate functionality. Other factors such as bite angle and hinging motion may also play a determining role. Keywords: lanthanide, catalyst, hetero Dielsis–Alder, yttrium, ytterbium, lanthanum.
Novel, air-stable, yttrium and ytterbium complexes were found effective in the catalysis of the typical hetero Diels–Alder reaction of crotonaldehyde and ethylvinyl ether. They represent an attractive solution to the problem of ligand lability in the realm of lanthanide catalysts. Key words: lanthanide, catalyst, hetero Diels–Alder, yttrium, ytterbium.