A Synthetic, Rare-Earth-Metal Chemist's Encounter with Quantum Information Science

This talk will explain how a synthetic chemist studying the inorganic and organometallic chemistry of the rare-earth metals (Sc, Y, and the lanthanides) got involved with single-molecule magnets and qubits before he even knew much about them.  The presentation will illustrate how synthetic chemists may be making molecules useful in the advancement of quantum information science without realizing the potential of the new compounds.  A description of the synthetic chemistry that led to single-molecule magnets like (C₅Me₅)Er(C₈H₈) and [K(18-crown-6)(THF)₂]{[(R₂N)₂(THF)Ln]₂(μ-η²:η²-N₂)} (Ln = Dy, Tb; R = SiMe₃) and qubits like [(C₅H₄SiMe₃)₃Y]^1- and [Lu(OAr*)₃]^1- (OAr* = OC₆H₂Ad₂-2,6-^tBu-4; Ad = adamantyl) will be presented.