Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025

Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of PhosphorusI
Published on: November 22, 2016
Effects of the Inverse Trans-Influence in a Berkelium(III) Phosphine Oxide Complex
Zachary K Huffman1, Hannah B Wineinger2, Jacob P Brannon2
1Duke Energy, Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant, New Hill, North Carolina 27562, United States.
Abstract:
An example of a 249Bk3+ phosphine oxide complex has been prepared to examine and quantify the effects of the inverse trans-influence (ITI) on a late actinide complex. This has been accomplished through a comparison of cis and trans Bk-ligand bonds in the meridional berkelium(III) complex, BkBr3(OPCy3)3 (OPCy3 = tricyclohexylphosphine oxide). A detailed bond metric analysis was completed that includes the shortest published distance for a Bk3+-O bond, attributed to the smaller coordination number of Bk3+ of six in mer-BkBr3(OPCy3)3. ITI calculations of the trans Bk3+-O bond provide an ITI value (98.5(2)%) comparable to that of mer-AmBr3(OPCy3)3 (98.2(2)%) and indicate a small 5f orbital contribution to bonding. This effect is discussed in the context of the isomorphous lanthanide(III) series where the ITI is calculated to be higher for mer-BkBr3(OPCy3)3 than in most Ln3+ analogues.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions-Peroxide Effect
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration
Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn...
Directing and Steric Effects in Disubstituted Benzene Derivatives
Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkenes: Wittig Reaction Mechanism
The reaction begins with the nucleophilic addition between a phosphorus ylide and the carbonyl compound. Due to its carbanionic character, phosphorus ylide acts as a strong nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic carbonyl group. This generates a charge-separated dipolar intermediate called betaine. The negatively charged oxygen atom and...
Predicting Molecular Geometry
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals II

