title: Reaction of Laser-Ablated Uranium and Thorium Atoms with H2Se: A Rare Example of Selenium Multiple Bonding.
abstract: The compounds H2ThSe and H2USe were synthesized by the reaction of laser-ablated actinide metal atoms with H2Se under cryogenic conditions following the procedures used to synthesize H2AnX (An = Th, U; X = O, S). The molecules were characterized by infrared spectra in an argon matrix with the aid of deuterium substitution and electronic structure calculations at the density functional theory level. The main products, H2ThSe and H2USe, are shown to have a highly polarized actinide-selenium triple bond, as found for H2AnS on the basis of electronic structure calculations. There is an even larger back-bonding of the Se with the An than found for the corresponding sulfur compounds. These molecules are of special interest as rare examples of multiple bonding of selenium to a metal, particularly an actinide metal.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg , Albertstraße 21, D-79104 Freiburg i. Br., Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vent-Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia , P.O. Box 400319, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4319, United States.
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama , Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0336, United States.
authors.forename: K Sahan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Thanthiriwatte
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama , Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0336, United States.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Institut für Chemie und Biochemie-Anorganische Chemie, Freie Universität Berlin , Fabeckstraße 34-36, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riedel