Tris(acetylacetonato)(1,10-phenanthroline)cerium(III) and Tris(acetylacetonato)(1,10-phenanthroline)praseodymium(III)

The crystal structures of the title compounds, [Ce(C₅H₇O₂)₃(C₁₂H₈N₂)], (1), and [Pr(C₅H₇O₂)₃(C₁₂H₈N₂)], (2), have been determined. There are two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit of (1) but only one molecule in the asymmetric unit of (2). In both compounds the metal atom is eightfold coordinated by six O and two N atoms in a slightly distorted square-antiprismatic arrangement. The ligands span the opposite edges of the two square faces of the coordination antiprism. Important bond distance ranges are: Ce-O 2.434 (7)-2.499 (7), Ce-N 2.70 (1)-2.767 (9), Pr-O 2.392 (5)-2.437 (6) and Pr-N 2.659 (5)-2.690 (6) Å.

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