A Delocalized Mixed-Valence Dinuclear Ytterbium Complex That Displays Intervalence Charge Transfer

The analysis of intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) in mixed-valence compounds can help understand electron transfer processes that are important in diverse applications such as molecular electronics and artificial photosynthesis. While mixed-valence complexes of the lanthanides are more difficult to access than their transition metal analogues, they have shown IVCT phenomena derived from Robin-Day Class II localized valency or even electronic transitions due to <i>d</i>-<i>d</i> metal-metal bonding. In contrast, we report here the synthesis, characterization, and computational analysis of a rare, Robin-Day Class III, singly reduced dinuclear Yb complex, which is best viewed as having delocalized oxidation states. In this case, no metal-metal bonding occurs and, for the first time, IVCT in a Robin-Day Class III complex resulting from <i>f</i>-<i>f</i> transitions is observed.