Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Synthesis of Hypervalent Iodonium Alkynyl Triflates for the Application of Generating Cyanocarbenes
Published on: September 8, 2013
Synthesis and characterization of a novel tetranuclear 5f compound: a new synthon for exploring U(IV) chemistry
Brian S Newell1, Trevor C Schwaab, Matthew P Shores
1Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1872, USA.
Abstract:
In the course of structurally characterizing previously reported complexes based on the 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane)) (dmpe) ligand ([(dmpe)(2)UCl(4)] (1) and [(dmpe)(2)UMe(4)] (2)), we find that adjusting the U/dmpe ratio leads to an unprecedented species. Whereas the use of two or three equivalents of dmpe relative to UCl(4) produces 1 as a blue-green solid, the use of a 1:1 dmpe/UCl(4) stoichiometry yields [(dmpe)(4)U(4)Cl(16)]·2CH(2)Cl(2)·(3·2CH(2)Cl(2)) as a green solid. In turn, 3 is used to prepare a mixed-chelating ligand complex featuring the bidentate ligand 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy), [(dmpe)(dmbpy)UCl(4)] (4). The measured magnetic susceptibilities for 1-4 trend toward nonmagnetic ground states at low temperatures.
Related Concept Videos
Five-Membered Heterocyclic Aromatic Compounds: Overview
Valence Bond Theory
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Fluorination and Iodination of Benzene
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
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...

