Studies on the reactions of 3-(tert-butyliminomethine)indole or 3-(tert-butylaminomethylene)indole with rare-earth metal amides [(Me3Si)2N]3REIII(μ-Cl)Li(THF)3 (RE = Y, Yb) led to the discovery of different reactivity patterns with isolation of novel rare-earth metal complexes having a unique indolyl-1,2-dianion in a novel η1:(μ2–η1:η1) bonding mode through C–H activation.
