Synthesis and Characterization of Isostructural Th(IV) and U(IV) Pyridine Dipyrrolide Complexes.

A series of pyridine dipyrrolide actinide(IV) complexes, (MesPDPPh)AnCl2(THF) and An(MesPDPPh)2 (An = U, Th, where (MesPDPPh) is the doubly deprotonated form of 2,6-bis(5-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)pyridine), have been prepared. Characterization of all four complexes has been performed through a combination of solid- and solution-state methods, including elemental analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic absorption and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. Collectively, these data confirm the formation of the mono- and bis-ligated species. Time-dependent density functional theory has been performed on all four An(IV) complexes, providing insight into the nature of electronic transitions that are observed in the electronic absorption spectra of these compounds. Room temperature, solution-state luminescence of the actinide complexes is presented. Both Th(IV) derivatives exhibit strong photoluminescence; in contrast, the U(IV) species are nonemissive.

Synthesis and Characterization of Pyridine Dipyrrolide Uranyl Complexes.

The first actinide complexes of the pyridine dipyrrolide (PDP) ligand class, (MesPDPPh)UO2(THF) and (Cl2PhPDPPh)UO2(THF), are reported as the UVI uranyl adducts of the bulky aryl substituted pincers (MesPDPPh)2- and (Cl2PhPDPPh)2- (derived from 2,6-bis(5-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)pyridine (H2MesPDPPh, Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl), and 2,6-bis(5-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)pyridine (H2Cl2PhPDPPh, Cl2Ph = 2,6-dichlorophenyl), respectively). Following the in situ deprotonation of the proligand with lithium hexamethyldisilazide to generate the corresponding dilithium salts (e.g., Li2ArPDPPh, Ar = Mes of Cl2Ph), salt metathesis with [UO2Cl2(THF)2]2 afforded both compounds in moderate yields. The characterization of each species has been undertaken by a combination of solid- and solution-state methods, including combustion analysis, infrared, electronic absorption, and NMR spectroscopies. In both complexes, single-crystal X-ray diffraction has revealed a distorted octahedral geometry in the solid state, enforced by the bite angle of the rigid meridional (ArPDPPh)2- pincer ligand. The electrochemical analysis of both compounds by cyclic voltammetry in tetrahydrofuran (THF) reveals rich redox profiles, including events assigned as UVI/UV redox couples. A time-dependent density functional theory study has been performed on (MesPDPPh)UO2(THF) and provides insight into the nature of the transitions that comprise its electronic absorption spectrum.

Quantitative UO bond activation in uranyl complexes via silyl radical transfer.

Reductive silylation of the uranyl dication with 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)dihydropyrazine, or "Mashima's reagent", is detailed. The reagent simultaneously delivers silylium ions and electrons to multiple uranyl complexes, i.e. a pyridine dipyrrolide uranyl complex and a common uranyl-containing starting material, UO2Cl2(OPPh3)2. This reaction results in quantitative activation of thermodynamically robust UO bonds. The reductive functionalization of environmentally persistent actinyl species with Mashima's reagent is seen as a promising solution for nuclear waste remediation.