A complete series of uranium(iv) complexes with terminal hydrochalcogenido (EH) and chalcogenido (E) ligands E = O, S, Se, Te.

We here report the synthesis and characterization of a complete series of terminal hydrochalcogenido, U-EH, and chalcogenido uranium(iv) complexes, U≡E (with E = O, S, Se, Te), supported by the (Ad,MeArOH)3tacn (1,4,7-tris(3-(1-adamantyl)-5-methyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) ligand system. Reaction of H2E with the trivalent precursor [((Ad,MeArO)3tacn)U] (1) yields the corresponding uranium(iv) hydrochalcogenido complexes [((Ad,MeArO)3tacn)U(EH)] (2). Subsequent deprotonation of the terminal hydrochalcogenido species with KN(SiMe3)2, in the presence of 2.2.2-cryptand, gives access to the uranium(iv) complexes with terminal chalcogenido ligands [K(2.2.2-crypt)][((Ad,MeArO)3tacn)U≡E] (3). In order to study the influence of the varying terminal chalogenido ligands on the overall molecular and electronic structure, all complexes were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry, UV/vis/NIR, electronic absorption, and IR vibrational spectroscopy as well as SQUID magnetometry and computational analyses (DFT, MO, NBO).

Molecular and Electronic Structures of Eight-Coordinate Uranium Bipyridine Complexes: A Rare Example of a Bipy2- Ligand Coordinated to a U4+ Ion.

Reaction of trivalent [((Ad,tBuArO)3tacn)U] (1) with 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) yields [((Ad,tBuArO)3tacn)U(bipy)] (2) and subsequent reduction of 2 with KC8 in the presence of Kryptofix222 furnishes [K(2.2.2-crypt)][((Ad,tBuArO)3tacn)U(bipy)] (3). Alternatively, complex 3 can be synthesized from 1 by addition of [K(bipy)] in the presence of the cryptand. New complexes 2 and 3 are characterized by a variety of spectroscopic, electrochemical, and magnetochemical methods, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, computational methods, and CHN elemental analysis. Structural analyses reveal a bipyridine radical (bipy•-) ligand in 2 and a dianionic (bipy2-) species in 3. Complex 3 represents a rare example of an isolated and unambiguously characterized bipy2- ligand coordinated to a uranium ion. The electronic structure assignments are supported by UV/vis/NIR and EPR spectroscopy, as well as SQUID magnetometry. The results of CASSCF calculations indicate multiconfigurational ground states for complexes 2 and 3. The electronic ground state for 2 consists of an open-shell doublet U4+(bipy•-) state (91%) and a closed-shell doublet U5+(bipy2-) state (9%). The almost degenerate multiconfigurational ground state for 3 was found to be composed of an open-shell singlet and pure triplet state 0.06 eV higher in energy, both resulting from the U4+(5f2) (bipy2-) configuration.

Synthesis and reactivity of a terminal uranium(iv) sulfide supported by siloxide ligands.

The reactions of the tetrasiloxide U(iii) complexes [U(OSi(O t Bu)3)4K] and [U(OSi(O t Bu)3)4][K18c6] with 0.5 equiv. of triphenylphosphine sulfide led to reductive S-transfer reactions, affording the U(iv) sulfide complexes [SU(OSi(O t Bu)3)4K2]2, 1, and [{SU(OSi(O t Bu)3)4K2}2(µ-18c6)], 2, with concomitant formation of the U(iv) complex [U(OSi(O t Bu)3)4]. Addition of 1 equiv. of 2.2.2-cryptand to complex 1 resulted in the isolation of a terminal sulfide complex, [SU(OSi(O t Bu)3)4K][Kcryptand], 3. The crucial role of the K+ Lewis acid in these reductive sulfur transfer reactions was confirmed, since the formation of complex 3 from the reaction of the U(iii) complex [U(OSi(O t Bu)3)4][Kcryptand] and 0.5 equiv. of PPh3S was not possible. Reactivity studies of the U(iv) sulfide complexes showed that the sulfide is easily transferred to CO2 and CS2 to afford S-functionalized products. Moreover, we have found that the sulfide provides a convenient precursor for the synthesis of the corresponding U(iv) hydrosulfide, {[(SH)U(OSi(O t Bu)3)4][K18c6]}, 5, after protonation with PyHCl. Finally, DFT calculations were performed to investigate the nature of the U-S bond in complexes 1, 3 and 5. Based on various analyses, triple-bond character was suggested for the U-S bond in complexes 1 and 3, while double-bond character was determined for the U-SH bond in complex 5.

Uranium(iv) terminal hydrosulfido and sulfido complexes: insights into the nature of the uranium-sulfur bond.

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of terminal uranium(iv) hydrosulfido and sulfido complexes, supported by the hexadentate, tacn-based ligand framework (Ad,MeArO)3tacn3- (= trianion of 1,4,7-tris(3-(1-adamantyl)-5-methyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane). The hydrosulfido complex [((Ad,MeArO)3tacn)U-SH] (2) is obtained from the reaction of H2S with the uranium(iii) starting material [((Ad,MeArO)3tacn)U] (1) in THF. Subsequent deprotonation with potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide yields the mononuclear uranium(iv) sulfido species in good yields. With the aid of dibenzo-18-crown-6 and 2.2.2-cryptand, it was possible to isolate a terminal sulfido species, capped by the potassium counter ion, and a "free" terminal sulfido species with a well separated cation/anion pair. Spectroscopic and computational analyses provided insights into the nature of the uranium-sulfur bond in these complexes.

Reactivity of uranium(iii) with H2E (E = S, Se, Te): synthesis of a series of mononuclear and dinuclear uranium(iv) hydrochalcogenido complexes.

We report the syntheses, electronic properties, and molecular structures of a series of mono- and dinuclear uranium(iv) hydrochalcogenido complexes supported by the sterically demanding but very flexible, single N-anchored tris(aryloxide) ligand (AdArO)3N)3-. The mononuclear complexes [((AdArO)3N)U(DME)(EH)] (E = S, Se, Te) can be obtained from the reaction of the uranium(iii) starting material [((AdArO)3N)UIII(DME)] in DME via reduction of H2E and the elimination of 0.5 equivalents of H2. The dinuclear complexes [{((AdArO)3N)U}2(µ-EH)2] can be obtained by dissolving their mononuclear counterparts in non-coordinating solvents such as benzene. In order to facilitate the work with the highly toxic gases, we created concentrated THF solutions that can be handled using simple glovebox techniques and can be stored at -35 °C for several weeks.