Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2025

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
A Uranium(II) Arene Complex That Acts as a Uranium(I) Synthon
Mark D Straub1,2, Erik T Ouellette1,2, Michael A Boreen1,2
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
Abstract:
Two-electron reduction of the amidate-supported U(III) mono(arene) complex U(TDA)3 (2) with KC8 yields the anionic bis(arene) complex [K[2.2.2]cryptand][U(TDA)2] (3) (TDA = N-(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)pivalamido). EPR spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and calculations using DFT as well as multireference CASSCF methods all provide strong evidence that the electronic structure of 3 is best represented as a 5f4 U(II) metal center bound to a monoreduced arene ligand. Reactivity studies show 3 reacts as a U(I) synthon by behaving as a two-electron reductant toward I2 to form the dinuclear U(III)-U(III) triiodide species [K[2.2.2]cryptand][(UI(TDA)2)2(μ-I)] (6) and as a three-electron reductant toward cycloheptatriene (CHT) to form the U(IV) complex [K[2.2.2]cryptand][U(η7-C7H7)(TDA)2(THF)] (7). The reaction of 3 with cyclooctatetraene (COT) generates a mixture of the U(III) anion [K[2.2.2]cryptand][U(TDA)4] (1-crypt) and U(COT)2, while the addition of COT to complex 2 instead yields the dinuclear U(IV)-U(IV) inverse sandwich complex [U(TDA)3]2(μ-η8:η3-C8H8) (8). Two-electron reduction of the homoleptic Th(IV) amidate complex Th(TDA)4 (4) with KC8 gives the mono(arene) complex [K[2.2.2]cryptand][Th(TDA)3(THF)] (5). The C-C bond lengths and torsion angles in the bound arene of 5 suggest a direduced arene bound to a Th(IV) metal center; this conclusion is supported by DFT calculations.
More Related Videos
07:20Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents
Published on: May 28, 2014
12:27Synthesis of Hypervalent Iodonium Alkynyl Triflates for the Application of Generating Cyanocarbenes
Published on: September 8, 2013
Related Concept Videos
Nuclear Transmutation
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...
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Halogenation
Halogenation is another class of electrophilic addition reactions where a halogen molecule gets added across a π bond. In alkynes, the presence of two π bonds allows for the addition of two equivalents of halogens (bromine or chlorine). The addition of the first halogen molecule forms a trans-dihaloalkene as the major product and the cis isomer as the minor product. Subsequent addition of the second equivalent yields the tetrahalide.
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
Valence Bond Theory
Diazonium Group Substitution with Halogens and Cyanide: Sandmeyer and Schiemann Reactions