Nitrite complexes of the rare earth elements.

The coordination chemistry of the nitrite anion has been investigated with rare earth elements, and the resulting complexes were structurally characterized. Among them, the first homoleptic examples of nitrite complexes of samarium, ytterbium and yttrium are described. The coordination behavior of the nitrite ion is directly controlled by the ionic radius of the metal cation. While the nitrito ligand is stable in the coordination sphere of cerium(iii), it is readily reduced by SmI2.