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Synthesis and electronic structure analysis of the actinide allenylidenes, [{(NR2)3}An(CCCPh2)](An = U, Th; R = SiMe3)

  • University of California at Santa Barbara
  • SUNY Buffalo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

The reaction of AnCl(NR2)3 (An = U, Th, R = SiMe3) within situgenerated lithium-3,3-diphenylcyclopropene results in the formation of [{(NR2)3}An(CH-C-CPh2)] (An = U,1; Th,2) in good yields after work-up. Deprotonation of1or2with LDA/2.2.2-cryptand results in formation of the anionic allenylidenes, [Li(2.2.2-cryptand)][{(NR2)3}An(CCCPh2)] (An = U,3; Th,4). The calculated13C NMR chemical shifts of the Cα, Cβ, and Cγnuclei in2and4nicely reproduce the experimentally assigned order, and exhibit a characteristic spin-orbit induced downfield shift at Cαdue to involvement of the 5f orbitals in the Th-C bonds. Additionally, the bonding analyses for3and4show a delocalized multi-center character of the ligand π orbitals involving the actinide. While a single-triple-single-bond resonance structure (e.g., An-C-C-CPh2) predominates, the An-C-C-CPh2resonance form contributes, as well, more so for3than for4.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14383-14388
Number of pages6
JournalChemical Science
Volume12
Issue number43
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 21 2021

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