The concept of covalency in chemical bonding is well established, but there are few methods to experimentally measure covalency, and none is a panacea…

The chemistry of the classical uranium(III) complex [U(N″)3] (N″ = {N(SiMe3)2}−) is well-developed; however, there have been surprisingly few studies of its reactivity toward N-heterocycles. Here, we ...

A triangular bismuth cluster helps clarify how ring currents behave in heavy-element systems

First actinide inverse-sandwich complexes containing a cyclo‑Bi₃³⁻ ring (diuranium and dithorium).Definitive aromatic behaviour in the heaviest known 6p system, with measurable ring currents and exalt...

Classical understanding of aromaticity has been challenged by its emergence in rings featuring only metal atoms. Now, diuranium and dithorium inverse sandwich complexes featuring a central cyclo-Bi33−...

The chemistry of the classical uranium(III) complex [U(N′′)3] (N′′ = {N(SiMe3)2}–) is well-developed, but there have been surprisingly few studies of its reactivity towards N-heterocycles. Here we report the separate reactions of [U(N′′)3] with pyrazine, ...

For recent publications relevant to the project see: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 27993; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 15000; Nat. Commun. 2019, 10, 3330; Chem. Sci. 2024, 15, 3003.

Homogeneous catalytic hydroboration represents a valuable strategy for the synthesis of alcohols but reports which employ iron-based catalysts are somewhat limited. Here, the authors report an iron me...

The isolation of catenated nitrogen compounds is difficult, in part because these chains can readily lose nitrogen, creating a strong thermodynamic push towards decomposition. Now, a series of molecul...

Uranocene, [UIV(η8-C8H8)2], is the actinide equivalent to ferrocene. While ferrocene is readily oxidised to the ferrocenium cation, higher oxidation states of uranocene are unknown. Here we report the elusive uranocenium cation, [UV(η8-C8H8)2]+ , and ...

The parent diphosphene molecule is of fundamental interest, but its reactive nature renders it challenging to isolate, and current metal-stabilized derivatives are limited to complexes of p-/d-metals....

We report the synthesis and characterization of pseudo-tetrahedral f-element complexes bearing the sterically demanding bidentate di(silylamido)silane ligand, {Me2Si(NSiiPr3)2}2– (Me2SiN†N†). Two equi...

Nature Communications - Although uranium-nitrogen multiple bonding is well developed, there are far fewer uranium-phosphorus and -arsenic multiple bonds, and none for antimony, even in...

Although uranium-nitrogen multiple bonding is well developed, there are far fewer uranium-phosphorus and -arsenic multiple bonds, and none for antimony, even in spectroscopic scenarios. Here, the auth...

Complexes containing hydroxide, water and dinitrogen ligands detected as researchers probe chemistry on the edge of the actinide series

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) based on dysprosocenium cations, [Dy(CpR)2]+ (CpR = substituted cyclopentadienyl), have set record effective energy barriers to magnetic reversal (Ueff) and temperatures...

A dysprosium amide–alkene complex shows soft magnetic hysteresis loops up to 100 kelvin, arising from the high charge density of the amide ligands and the structural role of the pendant alkene.

Here, the addition of H–H, Be–Be, B–B, and B–H bonds to SnII is studied by experimental and theoretical means. We report the first examples of B–B and Be–Be bond additions to a main group metal centr...

Nanocluster behaves like a 'super alkali-metal'

Superatoms are metal clusters that collectively behave like an atom, but they usually require metal–metal bonding and thus they are based on main group or transition metals. Now it has been shown that...

Nature Chemistry - The most common oxidation state for lanthanide elements is +3, and, beyond cerium, examples of these elements exhibiting higher oxidation states remain scarce. Now, a molecular...

We report the synthesis and characterization of crystalline m-terphenylthiolate uranium complexes supported by the bulky ligand system, SAriPr6 (SAriPr6 = {SC6H3-2,6-(Tripp)2}; Tripp = 2,4,6-iPr-C6H2)...