Coordination geometry of rare-earth cations

In lanthanide complexes, the Ln ions are hard Lewis acids, which prefer to coordinate hard bases, such as F, O, N ligands. The f-orbitals are not involved to a significant extent in M-L bonds, so their interaction with ligands is almost electrostatic in nature. Table 18.3.1 lists some examples of the various coordination 

Structures of some dimeric and oligomeric coordination compound of rare-earth metals (a) [Nd2(N03)n]5, (b) [Y( rf  

The lanthanide complexes exhibit a number of characteristic features in their 

---