Uranium versus Thorium: Synthesis and Reactivity of [η5 -1,2,4-(Me3 C)3 C5 H2 ]2 U[η2 -C2 Ph2

Abstract

The synthesis, electronic structure, and reactivity of a uranium metallacyclopropene were comprehensively studied. Addition of diphenylacetylene (PhC≡CPh) to the uranium phosphinidene metallocene [η 5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2U=P‐2,4,6‐tBu3C6H2 (1) yields the stable uranium metallacyclopropene, [η 5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2U[η 2‐C2Ph2] (2). Based on density functional theory (DFT) results the 5f orbital contributions to the bonding within the metallacyclopropene U‐(η 2‐C=C) moiety increases significantly compared to the related ThIV compound [η 5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2Th[η 2‐C2Ph2], which also results in more covalent bonds between the [η 5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2U2+ and [η 2‐C2Ph2]2− fragments. Although the thorium and uranium complexes are structurally closely related, different reaction patterns are therefore observed. For example, 2 reacts as a masked synthon for the low‐valent uranium(II) metallocene [η 5‐1,2,4‐(Me3C)3C5H2]2UII when reacted with Ph2E2 (E=S, Se), alkynes and a variety of hetero‐unsaturated molecules such as imines, ketazine, bipy, nitriles, organic azides, and azo derivatives. In contrast, five‐membered metallaheterocycles are accessible when 2 is treated with isothiocyanate, aldehydes, and ketones.