[{Al[OC(CF3)3]3}2(µ-F)]2 (1-Ln; Ln = Y, Dy) and their characterisation by elemental analysis, NMR and ATR-IR spectroscopy, powder and single crystal XRD, SQUID magnetometry, and density functional theory (DFT) and complete active space self-consistent field spin-orbit (CASSCF-SO) calculations. Despite the modest Ueff = 564(33) cm -1 for 1-Dy, its TH = 14 K is similar to the best-performing Dy(III) bis-Cp* complexes reported to date. Finally, the salt metathesis reactions of 1-Y with s-block ligand transfer agents are shown to proceed cleanly at room temperature, thus 1-Ln are also useful starting materials to heteroleptic Ln complexes as weakly-bound fluorobenzenes are easily displaced. We envisaged that 1-Ln could be useful precursors to novel heteroleptic Ln complexes as the coordinated fluorobenzenes will be easily displaced in salt metathesis reactions, allowing a second bulky anionic ligand to be installed without the need for forcing conditions that can lead to byproduct formation. e.g. by cyclometallation. We have previously shown that Ln complexes coordinated by Cpʹʹʹ ({C5H2(SiMe3)3-1,3}) are prone to decomposition reactions with anion abstraction reagents due to facile cleavage of the weak C-Si bonds, thus isolated Ln metallocenium cations were previously unknown for this ligand. Gratifyingly, the salt metathesis reaction of 1-Y with one equivalent of KCpʹʹʹ in fluorobenzene proceeded at room temperature to give