Wang D, Ding W, Hou G, Zi G, Walter MD. Uranium versus Thorium: Synthesis and Reactivity of [η
5 -1,2,4-(Me
3 C)
3 C
5 H
2 ]
2 U[η
2 -C
2 Ph
2 ].
Chemistry 2021;
27:6767-6782. [PMID:
33559922 PMCID:
PMC8251885 DOI:
10.1002/chem.202100089]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis, electronic structure, and reactivity of a uranium metallacyclopropene were comprehensively studied. Addition of diphenylacetylene (PhC≡CPh) to the uranium phosphinidene metallocene [η5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2U=P‐2,4,6‐tBu3C6H2 (1) yields the stable uranium metallacyclopropene, [η5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2U[η2‐C2Ph2] (2). Based on density functional theory (DFT) results the 5f orbital contributions to the bonding within the metallacyclopropene U‐(η2‐C=C) moiety increases significantly compared to the related ThIV compound [η5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2Th[η2‐C2Ph2], which also results in more covalent bonds between the [η5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2U2+ and [η2‐C2Ph2]2− fragments. Although the thorium and uranium complexes are structurally closely related, different reaction patterns are therefore observed. For example, 2 reacts as a masked synthon for the low‐valent uranium(II) metallocene [η5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2UII when reacted with Ph2E2 (E=S, Se), alkynes and a variety of hetero‐unsaturated molecules such as imines, ketazine, bipy, nitriles, organic azides, and azo derivatives. In contrast, five‐membered metallaheterocycles are accessible when 2 is treated with isothiocyanate, aldehydes, and ketones.
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