Synthesis of a uranium(VI)-carbene: reductive formation of uranyl(V)-methanides, oxidative preparation of a [R2C═U═O]2+ analogue of the [O═U═O]2+ uranyl ion (R = Ph2PNSiMe3), and comparison of the nature of U(IV)═C, U(V)═C, and U(VI)═C double bonds

Two-electron reductive carbonylation of terminal uranium(V) and uranium(VI) nitrides to cyanate by carbon monoxide

Two-electron reductive carbonylation of the uranium(VI) nitride [U(Tren(TIPS))(N)] (2, Tren(TIPS)=N(CH2CH2NSiiPr3)3) with CO gave the uranium(IV) cyanate [U(Tren(TIPS))(NCO)] (3). KC8 reduction of 3 resulted in cyanate dissociation to give [U(Tren(TIPS))] (4) and KNCO, or cyanate retention in [U(Tren(TIPS))(NCO)][K(B15C5)2] (5, B15C5=benzo-15-crown-5 ether) with B15C5. Complexes 5 and 4 and KNCO were also prepared from CO and the uranium(V) nitride [{U(Tren(TIPS))(N)K}2] (6), with or without B15C5, respectively. Complex 5 can be prepared directly from CO and [U(Tren(TIPS))(N)][K(B15C5)2] (7). Notably, 7 reacts with CO much faster than 2. This unprecedented f-block reactivity was modeled theoretically, revealing nucleophilic attack of the π* orbital of CO by the nitride with activation energy barriers of 24.7 and 11.3 kcal mol(-1) for uranium(VI) and uranium(V), respectively. A remarkably simple two-step, two-electron cycle for the conversion of azide to nitride to cyanate using 4, NaN3 and CO is presented.

The ketimide ligand is not just an inert spectator: heteroallene insertion reactivity of an actinide-ketimide linkage in a thorium carbene amide ketimide complex

The ketimide anion R2C=N(-) is an important class of chemically robust ligand that binds strongly to metal ions and is considered ideal for supporting reactive metal fragments due to its inert spectator nature; this contrasts with R2N(-) amides that exhibit a wide range of reactivities. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a rare example of an actinide ketimide complex [Th(BIPM(TMS)){N(SiMe3)2}(N=CPh2)] [2, BIPM(TMS)=C(PPh2NSiMe3)2]. Complex 2 contains Th=C(carbene), Th-N(amide) and Th-N(ketimide) linkages, thereby presenting the opportunity to probe the preferential reactivity of these linkages. Importantly, reactivity studies of 2 with unsaturated substrates shows that insertion reactions occur preferentially at the Th-N(ketimide) bond rather than at the Th=C(carbene) or Th-N(amide) bonds. This overturns the established view that metal-ketimide linkages are purely inert spectators.

Thiocyanate complexes of uranium in multiple oxidation states: a combined structural, magnetic, spectroscopic, spectroelectrochemical, and theoretical study

A comprehensive study of the complexes A4[U(NCS)8] (A = Cs, Et4N, (n)Bu4N) and A3[UO2(NCS)5] (A = Cs, Et4N) is described, with the crystal structures of [(n)Bu4N]4[U(NCS)8]·2MeCN and Cs3[UO2(NCS)5]·O0.5 reported. The magnetic properties of square antiprismatic Cs4[U(NCS)8] and cubic [Et4N]4[U(NCS)8] have been probed by SQUID magnetometry. The geometry has an important impact on the low-temperature magnetic moments: at 2 K, μeff = 1.21 μB and 0.53 μB, respectively. Electronic absorption and photoluminescence spectra of the uranium(IV) compounds have been measured. The redox chemistry of [Et4N]4[U(NCS)8] has been explored using IR and UV-vis spectroelectrochemical methods. Reversible 1-electron oxidation of one of the coordinated thiocyanate ligands occurs at +0.22 V vs Fc/Fc(+), followed by an irreversible oxidation to form dithiocyanogen (NCS)2 which upon back reduction regenerates thiocyanate anions coordinating to UO2(2+). NBO calculations agree with the experimental spectra, suggesting that the initial electron loss of [U(NCS)8](4-) is delocalized over all NCS(-) ligands. Reduction of the uranyl(VI) complex [Et4N]3[UO2(NCS)5] to uranyl(V) is accompanied by immediate disproportionation and has only been studied by DFT methods. The bonding in [An(NCS)8](4-) (An = Th, U) and [UO2(NCS)5](3-) has been explored by a combination of DFT and QTAIM analysis, and the U-N bonds are predominantly ionic, with the uranyl(V) species more ionic that the uranyl(VI) ion. Additionally, the U(IV)-NCS ion is more ionic than what was found for U(IV)-Cl complexes.

Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of a uranium(VI) carbene imido oxo complex

We report the uranium(VI) carbene imido oxo complex [U(BIPM(TMS))(NMes)(O)(DMAP)2] (5, BIPM(TMS) = C(PPh2 NSiMe3)2; Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2; DMAP = 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine) which exhibits the unprecedented arrangement of three formal multiply bonded ligands to one metal center where the coordinated heteroatoms derive from different element groups. This complex was prepared by incorporation of carbene, imido, and then oxo groups at the uranium center by salt elimination, protonolysis, and two-electron oxidation, respectively. The oxo and imido groups adopt axial positions in a T-shaped motif with respect to the carbene, which is consistent with an inverse trans-influence. Complex 5 reacts with tert-butylisocyanate at the imido rather than carbene group to afford the uranyl(VI) carbene complex [U(BIPM(TMS))(O)2(DMAP)2] (6).

The inverse trans influence in a family of pentavalent uranium complexes

Systematic ligand variation in a structurally conserved framework of pentavalent uranium complexes of the formulas U(V)X2[N(SiMe3)2]3 (X = F, Cl, Br, N3, NCS, 2-naphthoxide) and U(V)OX[N(SiMe3)2]3(-) (X = -CCPh, -CN) allowed an investigation into the role of the inverse trans influence in pentavalent uranium complexes. The -CCPh and -CN derivatives were only stable in the presence of the trans-U═O multiple bond, implicating the inverse trans influence in stabilizing these complexes. Spectroscopic, structural, and density functional theory calculated electronic structural data are explored. Near-IR data of all complexes is presented, displaying vibronic coupling of 5f(1) electronic transitions along the primary axis. Electrochemical characterization allowed assessment of the relative donating ability of the various axial ligands in this framework. Electron paramagnetic resonance data presented display axial spectra, with hyperfine coupling along the primary axis.

Reductive assembly of cyclobutadienyl and diphosphacyclobutadienyl rings at uranium

Despite the abundance of f-block-cyclopentadienyl, arene, cycloheptatrienyl and cyclo-octatetraenide complexes, cyclobutadienyl derivatives are unknown in spite of their prevalence in the d-block. Here we report that reductive [2+2]-cycloaddition reactions of diphenylacetylene and (2,2-dimethylpropylidyne)phosphine with uranium(V)-inverted sandwich 10π-toluene tetra-anion complexes results in the isolation of inverted sandwich cyclobutadienyl and diphosphacyclobutadienyl dianion uranium(IV) complexes. Computational analysis suggests that the bonding is predominantly electrostatic. Although the ψ4 molecular orbital in the cyclobutadienyl and diphosphacyclobutadienyl ligands exhibits the correct symmetry for δ-bonding to uranium, the dominant covalent contributions arise from π-bonding involving ψ2 and ψ3 orbital combinations. This contrasts with uranium complexes of larger arenes and cyclo-octatetraenide, where δ-bonding dominates. This suggests that the angular requirements for uranium to bond to a small four-membered ring favours π-bonding, utilizing 5f- instead of 6d-orbitals, over δ-bonding that is favoured with larger ligands, where 6d-orbitals can become involved in the bonding.

Substitution effects on the formation of T-shaped palladium carbene and thioketone complexes from Li/Cl carbenoids

The preparation of palladium thioketone and T-shaped carbene complexes by treatment of thiophosphoryl substituted Li/Cl carbenoids with a Pd(0) precursor is reported. Depending on the steric demand, the anion-stabilizing ability of the silyl moiety (by negative hyperconjugation effects) and the remaining negative charge at the carbenic carbon atom, isolation of a three-coordinate, T-shaped palladium carbene complex is possible. In contrast, insufficient charge stabilization results in the transfer of the sulfur of the thiophosphoryl moiety and thus in the formation of a thioketone complex. While the thioketones are stable compounds the carbene complexes are revealed to be highly reactive and decompose under elimination of Pd metal. Computational studies revealed that both complexes are formed by a substitution mechanism. While the ketone turned out to be the thermodynamically favored product, the carbene is kinetically favored and thus preferentially formed at low reaction temperatures.

Dimethylsilyl bis(amidinate)actinide complexes: synthesis and reactivity towards oxygen containing substrates

Ligand1reacts with ThCl₄and UCl₄yielding complexes2and4, respectively. Complex3is obtained from complex2displaying extremely short Th–OH bond distances.

Synthesis and stability of Li/Cl carbenoids based on bis(iminophosphoryl)methanes

Bis(iminophosphoryl) substituted Li/Cl carbenoids – accessable via different preparation methods – show high thermal stabilities, which however depend on the N-substituent.

Synthesis and properties of uranium sulfide cations. An evaluation of the stability of thiouranyl, {S═U═S}2+

Atomic uranium cations, U(+) and U(2+), reacted with the facile sulfur-atom donor OCS to produce several monopositive and dipositive uranium sulfide species containing up to four sulfur atoms. Sequential abstraction of two sulfur atoms by U(2+) resulted in US2(2+); density functional theory computations indicate that the ground-state structure for this species is side-on η(2)-S2 triangular US2(2+), with the linear thiouranyl isomer, {S═U(VI)═S}(2+), some 171 kJ mol(-1) higher in energy. The result that the linear thiouranyl structure is a local minimum at a moderate energy suggests that it should be feasible to stabilize this moiety in molecular compounds.

Synthesis and bonding in carbene complexes of an unsymmetrical dilithio methandiide: a combined experimental and theoretical study

Herein, we report the preparation of a new unsymmetrical, bis(thiophosphinoyl)-substituted dilithio methandiide and its application for the synthesis of zirconium- and palladium-carbene complexes. These complexes were found to exhibit remarkably shielded (13)C NMR shifts, which are much more highfield-shifted than those of "normal" carbene complexes. DFT calculations were performed to determine the origin of these observations and to distinguish the electronic structure of these and related carbene complexes compared with the classical Fischer and Schrock-type complexes. Various methods show that these systems are best described as highly polarized Schrock-type complexes, in which the metal-carbon bond possesses more electrostatic contributions than in the prototype Schrock systems, or even as "masked" methandiides. As such, geminal dianions represent a kind of "extreme" Schrock-type ligands favoring the ionic resonance structure M(+)-CR2(-) as often used in textbooks to explain the nucleophilic nature of Schrock complexes.

Isolation and characterization of a uranium(VI)-nitride triple bond

The nature and extent of covalency in uranium bonding is still unclear compared with that of transition metals, and there is great interest in studying uranium-ligand multiple bonds. Although U=O and U=NR double bonds (where R is an alkyl group) are well-known analogues to transition-metal oxo and imido complexes, the uranium(VI)-nitride triple bond has long remained a synthetic target in actinide chemistry. Here, we report the preparation of a uranium(VI)-nitride triple bond. We highlight the importance of (1) ancillary ligand design, (2) employing mild redox reactions instead of harsh photochemical methods that decompose transiently formed uranium(VI) nitrides, (3) an electrostatically stabilizing sodium ion during nitride installation, (4) selecting the right sodium sequestering reagent, (5) inner versus outer sphere oxidation and (6) stability with respect to the uranium oxidation state. Computational analyses suggest covalent contributions to U≡N triple bonds that are surprisingly comparable to those of their group 6 transition-metal nitride counterparts.

Uranium-ligand multiple bonding in uranyl analogues, [L═U═L]n+, and the inverse trans influence

The societal importance of uranium complexes containing the uranyl moiety [O═U═O](2+) continues to grow with the ongoing international nuclear enterprise and associated accumulating legacy waste. Further studies of the electronic structure of uranyl and its analogues are imperative for the development of crucial technologies, including lanthanide/actinide extractants and chemical and environmental remediation methodologies. Actinide oxo halides are a subset of the growing class of actinyl (uranyl) analogues. The understanding of their electronic structures links the detailed spectroscopic studies of uranyl, indicating the role of the pseudocore 6p orbitals in U-O bonding, to hypotheses about the 6p orbitals' role in the chemical bonding of uranyl analogues. These actinide oxo halides are a very small class of actinide compounds that present the inverse trans influence (ITI). This class of complexes was, until recently, limited to two crystallographically characterized compounds, namely, [UCl(5)O][PPh(4)] and [PaCl(5)O][NEt(4)](2). These complexes are important because they give a readily and clearly defined experimental observable: the difference between the M-X(trans) and M-X(cis) (here X = Cl) bond lengths in the solid state. This bond metric is a sensitive probe for the role of 6p, 6d, and 5f orbitals, as well as electrostatic interactions, in determining their electronic structure. This Viewpoint Article reviews the theoretical, experimental, and synthetic work on the ITI in actinide complexes and contextualizes it within broader studies on the electronic structure of uranyl and its analogues. Furthermore, our recent work on the ITI in high-valent uranium(V/VI) oxo and imido complexes is described as a whole. This work builds on the extant synthetic literature on the ITI and provides design parameters for the synthesis and characterization of high-valent uranium-ligand multiple bonds.