New developments in actinide alkoxide chemistry

Abstract

Much new information on the synthesis, physicochemical properties, solid state structures, and reaction chemistry of actinide alkoxide complexes has begun to emerge in the last decade. We have developed several new starting materials that facilitate easy entry into thorium and uranium alkoxide chemistry. Synthetic pathways employed in our laboratories to obtain alkoxide and aryloxide complexes of the actinides include (1) metathesis of the iodide ligands in Ul 3(THF) 4 and Thl 4(THF) 4 with potassium salts of the desired ligand, or (2) protonolysis of metal-nitrogen or metal-carbon bonds by alcohols or phenols. The rich structural and reaction chemistry of these new complexes is described along with prospects for future developments in the field.