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We report the synthesis of a heterobimetallic U(III)–Ir species which reacts with CS2 to form the novel ethanetetrathiolate fragment via hydride insertion and C–C coupling. Computational studies suggest the formation of a radical intermediate, which may couple with another equivalent to form the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hetero- and homoleptic dinuclear zinc(I) complexes containing the macrocycle Me4TACD (N,N′,N′′,N′′′-1,4,7,10-tetramethylcyclododecane) were prepared; the heteroleptic complex [(Me4TACD)Zn–ZnCp*]+ reacted with activated hydrocarbons R–H (R = CH2CN, C≡CPh) to give the corresponding hydrocarbyl zinc(II) complexes [(Me4TACD)ZnR]+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-atom (group 15 and group 16 anions) bridged dimetallic complexes of low oxidation state uranium provide a convenient route to implement multielectron transfer and promote magnetic communication in uranium chemistry, but remain extremely rare. Here we report the synthesis, redox and magnetic properties of N3−, O2−, and S2− bridged diuranium complexes supported by bulky aryloxide ligands. The U(IV)/U(IV) nitride [Cs(THF)8][(U(OAr)3)2(μ-N)], 1 could be prepared and characterized but could not be reduced. Reduction of the neutral U(IV)/U(IV) complexes [(U(OAr)3)2(μ-X)] A (X = O) and B (X = S) led to the isolation and characterization of the U(IV)/U(III) and U(III)/U(III) analogues. Complexes [(K(THF)4)2(U(OAr)2)2(μ-S)2], 5 and [K(2.2.2-cryptand)]2[(U(OAr)3)2(μ-S)], 6 are the first examples of U(III) sulphide bridged complexes. Computational studies and redox properties allow the reactivity of the dimetallic complexes to be related to their electronic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Ta/Os heterobimetallic complex, [Ta(CH2tBu)3(μ-H)3OsCp*], 2, is prepared by protonolysis of Ta(CHtBu)(CH2tBu)3 with Cp*OsH5. Treatment of 2 and its iridium analogue [Ta(CH2tBu)3(μ-H)2IrCp*], 1, with CO2 under mild conditions reveal the efficient cleavage of CO2, driven by the formation of a tantalum oxo species in conjunction with CO transfer to the osmium or iridium fragments, to form Cp*Ir(CO)H2 and Cp*Os(CO)H3, respectively. This bimetallic reactivity diverges from more classical CO2 insertion into metal–X (X = metal, hydride, alkyl) bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐electron oxidative addition is one of the most important elementary reactions for d‐block transition metals but it is uncommon for f‐block elements. Here, we report the first examples of intermolecular oxidative addition of E−H (E=C, N) bonds to uranium(II) centers. The transient U(II) species was formed in‐situ by reducing a heterometallic cluster featuring U(IV)‐Pd(0) bonds with potassium‐graphite (KC8). Oxidative addition of C−H or N−H bonds to the U(II) centers was observed when this transient U(II) species was treated with benzene, carbazole or 1‐adamantylamine, respectively. The U(II) centers could also react with tetracene, biphenylene or N2O, leading to the formation of arene reduced U(IV) products and uranyl(VI) species via two‐ or four‐electron processes. This study demonstrates that the intermolecular two‐electron oxidative addition reactions are viable for actinide elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cationic half‐sandwich zinc complexes containing chelating amines [Cp*Zn(Ln)][BAr4F] (2 a, Cp*=η3‐C5Me5, Ln=N,N,N',N'‐tetramethylethylenediamine, TMEDA; 2 b, Ln=N,N,N',N'‐tetraethylethylenediamine, TEEDA; 2 c, Cp*=η1‐C5Me5, Ln=N,N,N',N",N"‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, PMDTA; Ar4F=(3,5‐(CF3)2C6H3)4) reacted with dihydrogen (ca. 2 bar) in THF at 80 °C to give molecular zinc hydride cations [(Ln)ZnH(thf)m][BAr4F] (3 a,b, m=1; 3 c, m=0) previously reported along with Cp*H. Pseudo first‐order kinetics with respect to the concentration of 2 b suggests heterolytic cleavage of dihydrogen by the Zn−Cp* bond, reminiscent of σ‐bond metathesis. Hydrogenolysis of the zinc cation 2 b in the presence of benzophenone gave the zinc alkoxide [(TEEDA)Zn(OCHPh2)(thf)][BAr4F] (5 b). Cation 2 b was shown to catalytically hydrogenate N‐benzylideneaniline. The PMDTA complex 2 c underwent C−H bond activation in acetonitrile to give a dinuclear μ‐κC,κN‐cyanomethyl zinc complex [(PMDTA)Zn(CH2CN)]2[BAr4F]2 (6 c). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polynuclear metal hydride clusters play important roles in various catalytic processes, with most of the reported polynuclear metal hydride clusters adopting a polyhedral three‐dimensional structure. Herein, we report the first example of a planar tetranuclear uranium hydride cluster [(CpCMe2CMe2Cp)U]4(μ2‐H)4(μ3‐H)4 (U4H8). It was synthesized by reacting an ansa‐bis(cyclopentadienyl) ligand‐supported uranium chloride precursor [(CpCMe2CMe2Cp)U]3(μ2‐Cl)3(μ3‐Cl)2 with NaHBEt3. The presence of hydrides in U4H8 was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and its reactivity with phenol and carbon tetrachloride. DFT calculations also facilitated the determination of the hydrides' positions in U4H8, featuring four bridging μ2‐H ligands and four face‐capping μ3‐H ligands, with the four U centers arranged in a rhombic geometry. The U4H8 represents not only the first example of planar polynuclear actinide metal hydride cluster but also the uranium hydride cluster with the highest nuclearity reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stereodefined and highly substituted vinylsilanes are essential building blocks for constructing complex organic molecules. Transition metal‐mediated silylmetalation of alkynes was developed to overcome the limitations of conventional hydrosilylations; however, a very limited study was carried out to utilize transient vinylmetal species in cross‐coupling reactions. Moreover, they produce syn‐adduct, and the anti‐selective cross‐coupling is still unknown and highly desired. Silylzinc reagents are highly functional group tolerant, however, their synthesis from pyrophoric silyllithium and dissolved lithium salts hampers cross‐coupling reactions. Our novel solid silylzinc reagents circumvent these constraints are employed in the anti‐selective synthesis of vinylsilanes via a multi‐component reaction involving Me3SiZnI, terminal alkynes, and activated alkyl halides. An intensive computational and experimental investigation of the mechanism reveals an equilibrium between the intermediate syn‐ and anti‐adducts; the greater barrier at the single electron reduction of alkyl halides and the thermodynamic stability of the Ni(III) adduct determine the anti‐selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bulky β‐diketiminate ligand frameworks [BDIDCHP]− and [BDIDipp/Ar]− (BDI=[HC{C(Me)2N‐Dipp/Ar}2]− (Dipp=2,6‐diisopropylphenyl (Dipp); Ar=2,6‐dicyclohexylphyenyl (DCHP) or 2,4,6‐tricyclohexylphyenyl (TCHP)) have been developed for the kinetic stabilisation of the first europium (II) hydride complexes, [(BDIDCHP)Eu(μ‐H)]2, [(BDIDipp/DCHP)Eu(μ‐H)]2 and [(BDIDipp/TCHP)Eu(μ‐H)]2, respectively. These complexes represent the first step beyond the current lanthanide(II) hydrides that are all based on ytterbium. Tuning the steric profile of β‐diketiminate ligands from a symmetrical to unsymmetrical disposition, enhanced solubility and stability in the solution–state. This provides the first opportunity to study the structure and bonding of these novel Eu(II) hydride complexes crystallographically, spectroscopically and computationally, with their preliminary reactivity investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monomeric and dimeric uranium azide complexes {[(CH3)2NCH2CH2NPiPr2]2U(N3)2} (2) and {[(CH3)2NCH2CH2NPiPr2]2U(N3)2}2 (3) were synthesized by treating complex 1 with NaN3 at 60 and −20 °C, respectively. A temperature-induced single-crystal to single-crystal transformation of 3 to 2 was observed. The reduction of either 2 or 3 with KC8 yields a uranium nitride complex {[(CH3)2NCH2CH2NPiPr2]4U2(μ-N)2} (4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction of the 1,2‐disilylenes {(DipArAm)Si}2 (DipArAm=[(NDip)2CAr]−, Dip=2,6‐diisopropylphenyl, Ar=4‐C6H4But (Ar') 1 a or Ph 1 b) and two abnormal N‐heterocyclic silylenes, (DipArAm)SiOCSi{(NDip)2CAr} (Ar=Ar' 3 a or Ph 3 b) with N2O led to formation of unprecedented examples of uncoordinated silicon analogues of carboxylic acid anhydrides, (DipArAm)(O=)SiOSi(=O)(DipArAm) (Ar=Ar' 2 a or Ph 2 b). Both compounds have been fully characterized, and the mechanism of formation of one explored using DFT calculations. Reduction of sila‐acid anhydride 2 a with a dimagnesium(I) compound, [{(MesNacnac)Mg}2] (MesNacnac=[(MesNCMe)2CH]−, Mes=mesityl), led to the one‐electron reduction of the anhydride and formation of a magnesium complex of a sila‐acid anhydride radical anion [(MesNacnac)Mg{(OSi(DipAr'Am)}2O] 5. A combination of EPR spectroscopic studies and DFT calculations reveal the unpaired electron to largely reside on one of the amidinate ligands of the complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]