SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURE AND OXIDATIVE ADDITION-REACTIONS OF TRISCYCLOPENTADIENYLURANIUM(III) NITRILE COMPLEXES

The U(III) nitrile complexes [U(cp)3(NCR)] (CP = eta-C5H5; R = Me, (n)Pr, (i)Pr or (t)Bu) have been prepared by treatment of [U(cp)3(THF)] (THF, tetrahydrofuran) with the corresponding nitrile; the crystal structures of [U(CP)3(NCnPr)] and [U(cp)3(NCiPr)] have been determined. Reaction of [U(cp)3(THF)] with benzonitrile at room temperature or thermolysis of the adducts [U(cp)3(NCR)] (R = Me or (n)Pr) afforded an equimolar mixture of the U(IV) compounds [U(cp)3(CN)] and [U(cp)3(R)] (R = Me, (n)Pr or Ph).