SYNTHESIS AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF HOMOLEPTIC URANIUM HEXATHIOLATES - [NET(2)H(2)](2)[U(SPH)(6)] AND [(PH(3)P)CU(MU-SPH)(3)-U(MU-SPH)(3)CU(PPH(3))]

Treatment of U(NEt(2))(4) with PhSH gave [NEt(2)H(2)](2)[U(SPh)(6)] 1. Reaction of UCl4 with NaSPh in the presence of CuSPh and PPh(3) afforded [(Ph(3)P)Cu(mu-SPh)(3)U(mu-SPh)(3)Cu(PPh(3))] 2. The geometrical parameters of the octahedral US6 core are quite similar in the crystal structures of 1, 2-6thf and [(thf)(3)Na(mu-sPh)(3)U(mu-SPh)(3)Na(thf)(3)] (thf=tetrathydrofuran). The U-Cu distance of 3.05(1) Angstrom supports the presence of a direct metal-metal interaction.