Cyclooctatetraenide Derivatives of Divalent Samarium

Owing to the lack of suitable precursor complexes and applicable synthetic methodology, few soluble divalent organosamarium compounds are known. Recently, a facile route to SmI sub 2(THF) sub 2 proceeding from the bulk metal powder and several organic halides has been described by Kagan & co-workers. We demonstrate herein that this material or the desolvated salt can be used directly in metathetical syntheses (as illustrated by the synthesis of insoluble Sm(C sub 8 H sub 8) and the THF-soluble K sub 2 Sm(C sub 8 H sub 8) sub 2).