Exchange of an imido ligand in bis(imido) complexes of uranium

The synthesis of a uranium oxo imido complex, namely, trans-[U(NR)(O).sup.2+], which provides a link between an isostructural uranyl analogue and bis(imido) extremes, is reported. The structural data and theoretical results demonstrate that, like the bis(imido) complexes, the mixed oxo imido species still maintain many of the qualities that uranyl possesses, including significant uranium f and d electron participation in the multiple bonds.