Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemistry of the Homoleptic f Element Ketimide Complexes [Li]2[M(N═CtBuPh)6] (M = Ce, Th).

Reaction of [Ce(NO3)3(THF)4] with 6 equiv of Li(N═CtBuPh), followed by addition of 0.5 equiv of I2, affords the homoleptic Ce(IV) ketimide [Li]2[Ce(N═CtBuPh)6] (1), which can be isolated in 44% yield after workup. Similarly, reaction of [ThCl4(DME)2] (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) with 6 equiv of Li(N═CtBuPh) in tetrahydrofuran affords the isostructural Th(IV) ketimide [Li]2[Th(N═CtBuPh)6] (2), which can be isolated in 53% yield after workup. Both 1 and 2 were fully characterized, including analysis by X-ray crystallography, allowing for a detailed structural and spectroscopic comparison. The electronic structures of 1 and 2 were also explored with density functional theory and multiconfigurational wave function calculations. Additionally, the redox chemistry of 1 was probed by cyclic voltammetry, which revealed a highly cathodic Ce(IV)/Ce(III) reduction potential, providing evidence for the ability of the ketimide ligand to stabilize high oxidation states of the lanthanides.

New Twists and Turns for Actinide Chemistry: Organometallic Infinite Coordination Polymers of Thorium Diazide.

Two organometallic 1D infinite coordination polymers and two organometallic monometallic complexes of thorium diazide have been synthesized and characterized. Steric control of these self-assembled arrays, which are dense in thorium and nitrogen, has also been demonstrated: infinite chains can be circumvented by using steric bulk either at the metallocene or with a donor ligand in the wedge.

Synthesis, structure and bonding of hexaphenyl thorium(IV): observation of a non-octahedral structure.

We report herein the synthesis of the first structurally characterized homoleptic actinide aryl complexes, [Li(DME)3]2[Th(C6H5)6] (1) and [Li(THF)(12-crown-4)]2[Th(C6H5)6] (2), which feature an anion possessing a regular octahedral (1) or a severely distorted octahedral (2) geometry. The solid-state structure of 2 suggests the presence of pseudo-agostic ortho C-H···Th interactions, which arise from σ(C-H) → Th(5f) donation. The non-octahedral structure is also favoured in solution at low temperatures.

Comparison of the reactivity of 2-Li-C6H4CH2NMe2 with MCl4 (M=Th, U): isolation of a thorium aryl complex or a uranium benzyne complex.

Why do U react like that? Reaction of 2-Li-C6H4CH2NMe2 with [MCl4(DME)n] (M=Th, n=2; M=U, n=0) results in the formation of a thorium aryl complex, [Th(2-C6H4CH2NMe2)4] or a uranium benzyne complex, [Li][U(2,3-C6H3CH2NMe2)(2-C6H4CH2NMe2)3]. A DFT analysis suggests that the formation of a benzyne complex with U but not with Th is a kinetic and not thermodynamic effect.

Quantifying the σ and π interactions between U(V) f orbitals and halide, alkyl, alkoxide, amide and ketimide ligands.

f Orbital bonding in actinide and lanthanide complexes is critical to their behavior in a variety of areas from separations to magnetic properties. Octahedral f(1) hexahalide complexes have been extensively used to study f orbital bonding due to their simple electronic structure and extensive spectroscopic characterization. The recent expansion of this family to include alkyl, alkoxide, amide, and ketimide ligands presents the opportunity to extend this study to a wider variety of ligands. To better understand f orbital bonding in these complexes, the existing molecular orbital (MO) model was refined to include the effect of covalency on spin orbit coupling in addition to its effect on orbital angular momentum (orbital reduction). The new MO model as well as the existing MO model and the crystal field (CF) model were applied to the octahedral f(1) complexes to determine the covalency and strengths of the σ and π bonds formed by the f orbitals. When covalency is significant, MO models more precisely determined the strengths of the bonds derived from the f orbitals; however, when covalency was small, the CF model was better than either MO model. The covalency determined using the new MO model is in better agreement with both experiment and theory than that predicted by the existing MO model. The results emphasize the role played by the orbital energy in determining the strength and covalency of bonds formed by the f orbitals.

In pursuit of homoleptic actinide alkyl complexes.

This Forum Article describes the pursuit of isolable homoleptic actinide alkyl complexes, starting with the pioneering work of Gilman during the Manhattan project. The initial reports in this area suggested that homoleptic uranium alkyls were too unstable to be isolated, but Wilkinson demonstrated that tractable uranium alkyls could be generated by purposeful "ate" complex formation, which serves to saturate the uranium coordination sphere and provide the complexes with greater kinetic stability. More recently, we reported the solid-state molecular structures of several homoleptic uranium alkyl complexes, including [Li(THF)4][U(CH2(t)Bu)5], [Li(TMEDA)]2[UMe6], [K(THF)]3[K(THF)2][U(CH2Ph)6]2, and [Li(THF)4][U(CH2SiMe3)6], by employing Wilkinson's strategy. Herein, we describe our attempts to extend this chemistry to thorium. The treatment of ThCl4(DME)2 with 5 equiv of LiCH2(t)Bu or LiCH2SiMe3 at -25 °C in THF affords [Th(CH2(t)Bu)5] (1) and [Li(DME)2][Th(CH2SiMe3)5 (2), respectively, in moderate yields. Similarly, the treatment of ThCl4(DME)2 with 6 equiv of K(CH2Ph) produces [K(THF)]2[Th(CH2Ph)6] (3), in good yield. Complexes 1-3 have been fully characterized, while the structures of 1 and 3 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Additionally, the electronic properties of 1 and 3 were explored by density functional theory.

Probing the 5f orbital contribution to the bonding in a U(V) ketimide complex.

Reaction of UCl(4) with 5 equiv of Li(N═C(t)BuPh) generates the homoleptic U(IV) ketimide complex [Li(THF)(2)][U(N═C(t)BuPh)(5)] (1) in 71% yield. Similarly, reaction of UCl(4) with 5 equiv of Li(N═C(t)Bu(2)) affords [Li(THF)][U(N═C(t)Bu(2))(5)] (2) in 67% yield. Oxidation of 2 with 0.5 equiv of I(2) results in the formation of the neutral U(V) complex U(N═C(t)Bu(2))(5) (3). In contrast, oxidation of 1 with 0.5 equiv of I(2), followed by addition of 1 equiv of Li(N═C(t)BuPh), generates the octahedral U(V) ketimide complex [Li][U(N═C(t)BuPh)(6)] (4) in 68% yield. Complex 4 can be further oxidized to the U(VI) ketimide complex U(N═C(t)BuPh)(6) (5). Complexes 1-5 were characterized by X-ray crystallography, while SQUID magnetometry, EPR spectroscopy, and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy measurements were also preformed on complex 4. Using this data, the crystal field splitting parameters of the f orbitals were determined, allowing us to estimate the amount of f orbital participation in the bonding of 4.

Comparison of the redox chemistry of primary and secondary amides of U(IV): isolation of a U(VI) bis(imido) complex or a homoleptic U(VI) amido complex.

Reaction of UCl4 with 6 equiv of LiNH(t)Bu generates the U(IV) homoleptic amide complex [Li(THF)2Cl]2[Li]2[U(NH(t)Bu)6] (1 · THF) in 57% yield. In the solid-state, 1 · THF exists as a one-dimensional coordination polymer consisting of alternating [Li]2[U(NH(t)Bu)6] and [Li(THF)2Cl]2 building blocks. Recrystallization of 1 · THF from DME/hexanes affords the monomeric DME derivative, [Li(DME)2ClLi]2[U(NH(t)Bu)6] (1 · DME), which was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. The oxidation of 1 · THF with 1 equiv of AgOTF generates the U(VI) bis(imido) complex [Li(THF)]2[U(N(t)Bu)2(NH(t)Bu)4] (2) in low yield. In contrast, oxidation of 1 · THF with 1 equiv of I2, in the presence of excess tert-butylamine, cleanly affords the U(VI) bis(imido) U(N(t)Bu)2(NH(t)Bu)2(NH2(t)Bu)2 (3) in 78% yield. We have also explored the reactivity of UCl4 with the lithium salt of a secondary amide. Thus, reaction of 6 equiv of (LiNC5H10) (HNC5H10 = piperidine) with UCl4 in DME produces the U(IV) amide, [Li(DME)][U(NC5H10)5] (4). Oxidation of this material with 0.5 equiv of I2, followed by addition of Li(NC5H10), produces [Li(DME)3][U(NC5H10)6] (5) in moderate yield. Oxidation of 5 with 0.5 equiv of I2 generates U(NC5H10)6 (6) in good yield. The structures of 4-6 were elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis, while the magnetic properties of 4 and 5 were investigated by SQUID magnetometry. Additionally, the solution phase redox properties of 5 were examined by cyclic voltammetry.

Isolation of a uranyl amide by "ate" complex formation.

The uranyl amide [{Li(DME)}(2)Cl][Li(DME)][UO(2)(NC(5)H(10))(3)](2) has been synthesised and structurally characterised. Its stability is attributed to the saturation of the uranyl coordination sphere by "ate" complex formation.