TRIS((HEXAMETHYLDISILYL)AMIDO)URANIUM(III) - PREPARATION AND COORDINATION CHEMISTRY

Red, monomeric, volatile tris((hexamethyldisilyl)amido)uranium (III) has been prepared from uranium trichloride (prepared from uranium tetrachloride and 1 molar equiv of sodium naphthalene in tetrahydrofuran) and sodium (hexamethyldisilyl)amide in tetrahydrofuran. The geometry of this three-coordinate amide is thought to be pyramidal, analogous to that of its congener, neodymium. The tris(silylamide) does not form coordination complexes with a variety of Lewis bases, though the analogous neodymium compound affords 1:1 complexes with t-BuNC and t-BuCN. The uranium amide is oxidized by molecular oxygen or trimethylamine oxide to a uranium(V) species, OU[N(SiMe3)2]3. The neodymium tris(silylamide) reacts with the dimethyl sulfide complex of borane affording Nd(BH4)3(THF)3. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.