Bimetallic uranyl/cobalt(II) isothiocyanates: structure, property and spectroscopic analysis of homo- and heterometallic phases

Inorganic Metal Thiocyanates

Metal thiocyanates were some of the first pseudohalide compounds to be discovered and adopt a diverse range of structures. This review describes the structures, properties, and syntheses of the known binary and ternary metal thiocyanates. It provides a categorization of their diverse structures and connects them to the structures of atomic inorganic materials. In addition to this description of characterized binary and ternary thiocyanates, this review summarizes the state of knowledge for all other binary metal thiocyanates. It concludes by highlighting opportunities for future materials development.

A novel symmetric pyrazine (pyz)-bridged uranyl dimer [UO2Cl3(H2O)(Pyz)0.5]22-: synthesis, structure and computational analysis

Herein we report on the synthesis of (HPyz⁺)₂[UO₂Cl₃(H₂O)(Pyz)_0.5]₂·2H₂O which features a novel pyrazine-bridged uranyl dimer, [UO₂Cl₃(H₂O)(Pyz)_0.5]₂^2-. A rigorous computational and experimental analysis of this compound was performed to fully explore the influence of coordination on the electronic structure and potential charge-transfer characteristics of this dimer, revealing a delocalized π-system across the bridging pyrazine and the axial components of both uranyl centers. Electrostatic surface potentials, used to rationalize the observed assembly, indicate a decreased basicity of the uranyl oxo versus [UO₂Cl₄]^2-, and signify a lessened capacity for the terminal -yl oxos of the [UO₂Cl₃(H₂O)(Pyz)_0.5]₂^2- dimer to participate in supramolecular assembly. A combined density functional theory (DFT) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis further evidenced an increase in UO bond strengths within the dimer, which is supported by a blue shift in the characteristic Raman-active uranyl symmetric stretch (ν₁) with respect to the more typically observed [UO₂Cl₄]^2-.