title: Combined triple and double bonds to uranium: the N≡U=N-H uranimine nitride molecule prepared in solid argon.
abstract: Reactions of laser-ablated U atoms with N(2) and H(2) mixtures upon codeposition in excess argon at 5 K gave strong NUN and weak UN infrared absorptions and new bands at 3349.7, 966.9, 752.4, and 433.0 cm(-1) for the unusual new U(V) molecule N≡U=N-H, uranimine nitride, containing both triple and double bonds. This identification is based on D and (15)N isotopic substitution and comparison with frequencies computed by density functional theory for the (2)Δ ground state NUNH. Calculated bond lengths are compared to those of the (1)Σ(g)(+) ground state of U(VI) uranium dinitride N≡U≡N, the (2)Φ ground state of the isoelectronic nitride oxide N≡U=O, and the (3)A ground state of the U(IV) uranimine dihydride HN=UH(2) molecule, which have all been prepared in solid argon matrices. Mulliken bond orders based on the CASSCF orbitals for N≡U=N-H are 2.91, 2.19, and 1.05, respectively. Here, the terminal nitride is effectively a triple bond, just as found for N≡U≡N. The solid argon matrix is a convenient medium to isolate reactive terminal uranium nitrides for examination of their spectroscopic properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400319, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4319, USA.
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Bess
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vlaisavljevich
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gagliardi