title: Reversible binding and reduction of dinitrogen by a uranium(III) pentalene complex.
abstract: The U(III) mixed-sandwich compound [U(eta-Cp)(eta-C(8)H(4)[Si(i)Pr(3)-1,4](2))] 1 may be prepared by sequential reaction of UI(3) with KCp followed by K(2)[C(8)H(4)[Si(i)Pr(3)-1,4](2)], and has been crystallographically characterized. 1 reacts reversibly with dinitrogen to afford dimeric [[U(eta-Cp)(eta-C(8)H(4)[Si(i)Pr(3)-1,4](2))](2)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)-N(2))] 2, whose X-ray crystal structure reveals a sideways-bound, bridging diazenido (N(2)(2-)) ligand.
authors.affiliation: The Chemistry Laboratory, School of Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QJ, UK. f.g.cloke@sussex.ac.uk
authors.forename: F Geoffrey N
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Cloke
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hitchcock