Thorium complexes possessing expanded ring N-heterocyclic iminato ligands: synthesis and applications

Area of Science:

• Organometallic Chemistry
• Thorium Chemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Thorium complexes are of interest for catalytic applications.
• N-heterocyclic iminato ligands offer unique coordination properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize new thorium(IV) complexes with N-heterocyclic iminato ligands.
• To investigate the catalytic activity of these complexes in the Tishchenko reaction.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Cp*2Th(L)(CH3) complexes.
• Stoichiometric reaction studies.
• Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of six- and seven-membered N-heterocyclic iminato ligands.
• Formation of a new class of Th(IV) complexes.
• Demonstration of catalytic activity in the Tishchenko reaction.

Conclusions:

• The novel Th(IV) complexes are effective in the Tishchenko reaction.
• A plausible reaction mechanism has been proposed based on experimental data.