Synthesis of imido analogs of the uranyl ion.
Here we describe the synthesis of two imido analogs of the uranyl ion, UO(2+)2, in which the oxygens are replaced by divalent alkyl or aryl nitrogen groups: U(NtBu)2I2(THF)2 (1) and U(NPh)2I2(THF)3 (2) (where tBu is tert-butyl and THF is tetrahydrofuran). Both compounds have been fully characterized by standard analytical techniques, including x-ray crystallography, and the chemical bonding between the metal center and the nitrogen ligands was quantified by using hybrid density functional theory calculations. As expected for a uranyl analog, these complexes exhibit linear N-U-N linkages and very short U-N bonds. In addition, the theoretical calculations show strong involvement of the 5f and 6d electrons in the U-N bonding.
Hayton
Trevor W
TW
Chemistry Division, MS J514, MS B268, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA.
Boncella
James M
JM
Scott
Brian L
BL
Palmer
Phillip D
PD
Batista
Enrique R
ER
Hay
P Jeffrey
PJ