The reactions of alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanols, butanols etc.) with anhydrous lanthanum and cerium (III) chlorides have been investigated and a large number of new compounds with the general formula MCl3·3ROH have been isolated. When lanthanum and cerium (III) chloridemonohydrates were allowed to react with alcohols, dialcoholates with the formula MCl3·H2O·2ROH were isolated. The synthesis
Ytterbium chloride forms alcoholates YbCl3,3ROH except with t-butyl alcohol, which forms YbCl3,1·5ButOH. The effect of heat on these complexes has been studied.