From a mercury(II) bis(yldiide) complex to actinide yldiides.

The bis(yldiide) mercury complex, (L–Hg–L) [L = C(PPh3)P(S)Ph2], is prepared from the corresponding potassium yldiide and used to access the first substituted yldiide actinide complexes [(C5Me5)2An(L)(Cl)] (An = U, Th) via salt metathesis. Compared to previously reported phosphinocarbene complexes, the complexes exhibit long actinide–carbon distances, which can be explained by the strong polarization of the π-electron density toward carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]