Samarium(III) acetylacetonate

Samarium acetylacetonate is a coordination compound with the formula Sm(C5H7O2)3. This anhydrous acetylacetonate complex is widely discussed but unlikely to exist per se. The 8-coordinated dihydrate Sm(C5H7O2)3(H2O)2 is a more plausible formula based on the behavior of other lanthanide acetylacetonates. The dihydrate has been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Upon attempted dehydration by heating under vacuum, other hydrated lanthanide tris(acetylacetonate) complexes decompose to give oxo-clusters.

Consistent with the stability of 8-coordinate derivatives is the Sm(C5H7O2)3(1,10-phenanthroline). Furthermore, recrystallization of the dihydrate from DMSO gives Sm(acac)3·2DMSO·H2O.

Samarium(III) acetylacetonate react with N-bromosuccinimide to give the ring-brominated derivative. It reacts with dicobalt octacarbonyl and can be used to prepare SmCo5.