title: Synthesis and structure of a terminal uranium nitride complex.
abstract: The terminal uranium nitride linkage is a fundamental target in the study of f-orbital participation in metal-ligand multiple bonding but has previously eluded characterization in an isolable molecule. Here, we report the preparation of the terminal uranium(V) nitride complex [UN(Tren(TIPS))][Na(12-crown-4)(2)] {in which Tren(TIPS) = [N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiPr(i)(3))(3)](3-) and Pr(i) = CH(CH(3))(2)} by reaction of the uranium(III) complex [U(Tren(TIPS))] with sodium azide followed by abstraction and encapsulation of the sodium cation by the polydentate crown ether 12-crown-4. Single-crystal x-ray diffraction reveals a uranium-terminal nitride bond length of 1.825(15) angstroms (where 15 is the standard uncertainty). The structural assignment is supported by means of (15)N-isotopic labeling, electronic absorption spectroscopy, magnetometry, electronic structure calculations, elemental analyses, and liberation of ammonia after treatment with water.
authors: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: King
authors: Floriana
authors: F
authors: Tuna
authors: Eric J L
authors: EJ
authors: McInnes
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: McMaster
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Lewis
authors: Alexander J
authors: AJ
authors: Blake
authors: Stephen T
authors: ST
authors: Liddle