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The electronic organization of Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) allows them to activate strong bonds in mechanisms that are usually free of redox events at the Lewis acidic site. The unique 6d/5f manifold of uranium could serve as an interesting FLP acceptor site, but to date FLP-like catalysis with actinide ions is unknown. In this paper, the catalytic, FLP-like hydrogenation reactivity of trivalent uranium complexes is explored in the presence of base-stabilized silylenes. Comparison to isoelectronic, isostructural lanthanide and thorium complexes lends insight into the electronic factors governing dihydrogen activation. Mechanistic studies of the uranium- and lanthanide-catalyzed hydrogenations are presented, including discussion of likely intermediates. Computational modeling of the f-element complexes, combined with experimental comparison to p-block Lewis acids, elucidates the relevance of steric hindrance to productive reactivity with dihydrogen. Consideration of the complete experimental and theoretical evidence provides a clear picture of the electronic and steric factors governing dihydrogen activation by these FLPs.

A single-source-precursor approach was developed to synthesize uranium-based materials outside of the typically-studied oxides. This approach allows for shorter reaction times, milder reaction conditions, and control over the chemicals present in synthesis. To this end, the first homoleptic uranium thioamidate complex was synthesized as a precursor for US 2 materials. Pyrolysis of the thioamidate results in decomposition via an alkene elimination pathway and formation of γ-US 2 , which has historically been hard to access without the need for a secondary sulfur source. Despite the oxophilicity of uranium, the method successfully forms US 2 without the inclusion of oxygen in the bulk final product. These findings are supported by simultaneous thermal analysis, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and uranium L 3 -edge X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy. This work represents the first example of a single-source precursor approach to target and synthesize actinide materials other than the oxides., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Reaction of the potassium pentamethylcyclopentadienyl iridate tris-hydride K[IrCp*H 3 ] with UCl 4 and ThCl 4 (DME) 2 led to the complete replacement of the halide ligands to generate multimetallic complexes U{(μ-H) 3 IrCp*} 4 (1) and Th{[(μ-H 2 )(H)IrCp*] 2 [(μ-H) 3 IrCp*] 2 } (2), respectively. These analogues feature a significant discrepancy in hydride bonding modes; 1 contains twelve bridging hydrides while 2 contains ten bridging hydrides and two terminal, Ir-bound hydrides. Use of a U(iii) starting material, UI 3 (1,4-dioxane) 1.5 , resulted in the octanuclear complex {U[(μ 2 -H 3 )IrCp*] 2 [(μ 3 -H 2 )IrCp*]} 2 (3). Computational studies indicate significant bonding character between U/Th and Ir in 1 and 2, with f-orbital involvement in the singly-occupied molecular orbitals of the uranium species 1. In addition, these studies attribute the variation in hydride bonding between 1 and 2 to differences in dispersion effects., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Reaction of the uranium(III) bis(amidinate) aryl complex {TerphC(N i Pr) 2 } 2 U(Terph) ( 2 , where Terph = 4,4″-di- tert -butyl- m -terphenyl-2'-yl) with a strong reductant enabled isolation of isomeric uranium(III) bis(amidinate) aryl product {TerphC(N i Pr) 2 } 2 U(Terph*) ( 3 , where Terph* = 4,4″-di- tert -butyl- m -terphenyl-4'-yl). In terms of connectivity, 3 differs from 2 only in the positions of the U-C and C-H bonds on the central aryl ring of the m -terphenyl-based ligand. A deuterium labeling study ruled out mechanisms for this isomerization involving intermolecular abstraction or deprotonation of the ligand C-H bonds activated during the reaction. Due to the complexity of this rapid, heterogeneous reaction, experimental studies could not further distinguish between two different intramolecular C-H activation mechanisms. However, high-level computational studies were consistent with a mechanism that included two sets of unimolecular, mononuclear C-H oxidative addition and reductive elimination steps involving uranium(II/IV).

The diverse coordination modes and electronic features of actinide complexes of porphyrins and related oligopyrrolic systems (referred to as "porpyrinoids") have been the subject of interest since the 1960s. Given their stability and accessibility, most work with actinides has focused on thorium and uranium. This trend is also seen in the case of porphyrinoid-based complexation studies. Nevertheless, the diversity of ligand environments provided by porphyrinoids has led to the stabilization of a number of unique complexes with the early actinides that are often without structural parallel within the broader coordination chemical lexicon. This review summarizes key examples of prophyrinoid actinide complexes reported to date, including the limited number of porphyrinoid systems involving transuranic elements. The emphasis will be on synthesis and structure; however, the electronic features and reactivity pattern of representative systems will be detailed as well. Coverage is through December of 2021.