A Thorium Chalcogenolate Series Generated by Atom Insertion into Thorium-Carbon Bonds.

A new thorium monoalkyl complex, Th(CH2SiMe3)(L3) (L = MeC(NiPr)2) (2), undergoes insertion of chalcogen atoms resulting in a series of thorium chalcogenolate complexes, Th(ECH2SiMe3)(L3) (E = S, SS, Se, Te; 5-8). Complex 6 represents the first alkyl disulfide thorium species and illustrates the ability of 2 to undergo controllable, stoichiometric atom insertion. All complexes have been characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, FTIR, EA, and melting point, and in the case of 1, 2, and 4-8, X-ray crystallography. Insertion was achieved by balancing the thermodynamic driving force of chalcogenolate formation versus the BDE of the pnictogen-chalcogen bond in the transfer reagent. Utilizing Me3NO as an oxygen atom transfer reagent led to C-H activation and SiMe4 extrusion rather than oxygen atom insertion, resulting in the alkoxide complex Th(OCH2NMe2)(L3) (4).

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial studies on some mixed ligand thorium complexes with N- and O-donor ligands.

Mixed ligand Th(IV) complexes of the type [M(Q)(L)(NO3)2] x 2H2O have been synthesized using 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ) as a primary ligand and N- and/or O- donor amino acids (HL) such as L-threonine, L-tryptophan and L-isoleucine as secondary ligands. The metal complexes have been characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, electrical conductance, room temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements, spectral and thermal studies. The electrical conductance studies of the complexes in DMF in 10(-3). M concentration indicate their non-electrolytic nature. Room temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed diamagnetic nature of the complexes. Electronic absorption spectra of the complexes show intra-ligand and charge transfer transitions, respectively. Bonding of the metal ion through N- and O-donor atoms of the ligands revealed by IR studies and the chemical environment of the protons is also confirmed by NMR studies. The thermal analysis data of the complexes indicate the presence of crystalline water molecules. The tube dilution method has been used to study the antibacterial activity of the complexes against the pathogenic bacteria S. aureus, C. diphtheriae, S. typhi and E. coli.