Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Uranium-nitrogen multiple bonding: the case of a four-coordinate uranium(VI) nitridoborate complex
Alexander R Fox1, Christopher C Cummins
1Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Abstract:
Reaction of the azidoborate salt [N(n-Bu)(4)][(C(6)F(5))(3)B(N(3))] ([N(n-Bu)(4)][1]) with the uranium(III) tris(anilide) complex (THF)U(N[t-Bu]Ar)(3) (2; THF = tetrahydrofuran; Ar = 3,5-Me(2)C(6)H(3)) results in formation of the paramagnetic uranium(V) nitridoborate complex [N(n-Bu)(4)][(C(6)F(5))(3)BNU(N[t-Bu]Ar)(3)] ([N(n-Bu)(4)][3]). Chemical oxidation of [N(n-Bu)(4)][3] is facile and provides the diamagnetic uranium(VI) nitridoborate complex (C(6)F(5))(3)BNU(N[t-Bu]Ar)(3) (3). [N(n-Bu)(4)][3] and 3 are the first nitridoborate complexes of uranium and were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction methods, and elemental analysis. The X-ray crystal structures of [N(n-Bu)(4)][3] and 3 reveal extremely short UN(nitrido) distances (1.916(4) A and 1.880(4) A, respectively). Density functional theory was used to calculate the optimized structure of the truncated model (C(6)F(5))(3)BNU(N[Me]Ph)(3); the procedure was carried out similarly for several other relevant complexes featuring UN multiple bonds. Bond multiplicities based on Nalewajski-Mrozek valence indices were calculated, the results of which suggest that the UN(nitrido) interaction in 3 is close to a full triple bond.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Valence Bond Theory
Coordination Number and Geometry
Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Nuclear Transmutation
Exceptions to the Octet Rule
Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature

