Simple entry into N-tert-butyl-iminophosphonamide rare-earth metal alkyl and chlorido complexes.

In situ protolysis reaction of a highly basic and sterically hindered N,N'-di-tert-butyl-iminophosphonamide ligand Ph2P([double bond, length as m-dash]N-tBu)(NH-tBu) = (NPN(tBu))H (1) with equimolar or hemimolar amounts of rare-earth metal tris-alkyls leads to dialkyl [(NPN(tBu))Ln(CH2SiMe3)2(THF)n] (Ln = Sc, n = 0 (2), Ln = Y, n = 1 (3)) and monoalkyl species [(NPN(tBu))2Ln(CH2SiMe3)] (Ln = Y (4), Nd (6), Sm (7)). One-pot reaction of [ScCl3(THF)3]/1/MeLi in 1/2/3 eq. ratio gives [(NPN(tBu))2Sc(THF)CH3] 5.