Pierre Thuéry

The U═C Double Bond: Synthesis and Study of Uranium Nucleophilic Carbene Complexes

Treatment of U(BH(4))(4) with 1 or 3 equiv of Li(2)(SCS) x 1.5 Et(2)O, 1, afforded the actinide carbene complexes U(mu-SCS)(3)[U(BH(4))(3)](2) (4) and U(mu-SCS)(3)[Li(Et(2)O)](2) (6), respectively [SCS = (Ph(2)P = S)(2)C]. In THF, complex 4 was transformed into the mononuclear derivative (SCS)U(BH(4))(2)(THF)(2) (5). The multiple bond character of the uranium-carbon bond was first revealed by the X-ray crystal structures of the three complexes. The U=C bond in these complexes present a nucleophilic character, as shown by their reaction with a carbonyl derivative. Finally, DFT calculations prove the involvement of both 5f and 6d orbitals in both the sigma and the pi U-C bonds.

Exploring the uranyl organometallic chemistry: from single to double uranium-carbon bonds.

Uranyl organometallic complexes featuring uranium(VI)-carbon single and double bonds have been obtained from uranyl UO(2)X(2) precursors by avoiding reduction of the metal center. X-ray diffraction and density functional theory analyses of these complexes showed that the U-C and U=C bonds are polarized toward the nucleophilic carbon.

Uranyl-Lanthanide Heterometallic Complexes with Cucurbit[6]uril and Perrhenate Ligands

The reaction of uranyl and lanthanide nitrates with cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) in the presence of perrhenic acid and under hydrothermal conditions yields the novel heterometallic uranyl-lanthanide molecular complexes [UO2Ln(CB6)(ReO4)2(NO3)(H2O)7](ReO4)2 (Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Lu). Both metal cations are bound to carbonyl groups of the same CB6 portal, one for UO2(2+) and two for Ln3+. The uranium atom is also bound to one monodentate perrhenate ion and three aquo ligands, while the lanthanide is bound to one monodentate perrhenate and one nitrate ions, and four aquo ligands. Not only are these complexes rare examples of ReO4(-) bonding to f element ions, but the perrhenate bound to Ln is included in the CB6 cavity, thus providing the first case of inclusion of a tetrahedral oxoanion in this macrocycle.

Bis(crown ether) and Azobenzocrown Derivatives of Calix[4]arene. A Review of Structural Information from Crystallographic and Modelling Studies

The association within one molecule ofcalix[4]arene and crown ether moieties leads toligands with new complexing properties. In particular,calix[4]arene bis(crown-6) and some of itsderivatives have been shown to be highly selectiveextractants for caesium ions. This review presents thebackground of the study and the results of crystalstructure determinations and molecular modellingcalculations performed during the investigation of twomolecular families, the bis(crown ether) and theazobenzocrown derivatives of calix[4]arene.

Metal-free reduction of CO2 with hydroboranes: two efficient pathways at play for the reduction of CO2 to methanol.

Guanidines and amidines prove to be highly efficient metal-free catalysts for the reduction of CO2 to methanol with hydroboranes such as 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) and catecholborane (catBH). Nitrogen bases, such as 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD), 7-methyl-1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (Me-TBD), and 1,8-diazabicycloundec-7-ene (DBU), are active catalysts for this transformation and Me-TBD can catalyze the reduction of CO2 to methoxyborane at room temperature with TONs and TOFs of up to 648 and 33 h(-1) (25 °C), respectively. Formate HCOOBR2 and acetal H2C(OBR2)2 derivatives have been identified as reaction intermediates in the reduction of CO2 with R2BH, and the first C-H-bond formation is rate determining. Experimental and computational investigations show that TBD and Me-TBD follow distinct mechanisms. The N-H bond of TBD is reactive toward dehydrocoupling with 9-BBN and affords a novel frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) that can activate a CO2 molecule and form the stable adduct 2, which is the catalytically active species and can facilitate the hydride transfer from the boron to the carbon atoms. In contrast, Me-TBD promotes the reduction of CO2 through the activation of the hydroborane reagent. Detailed DFT calculations have shown that the computed energy barriers for the two mechanisms are consistent with the experimental findings and account for the reactivity of the different boron reductants.

Solution, Solid State, and Film Properties of a Structurally Characterized Highly Luminescent Molecular Europium Plastic Material Excitable with Visible Light

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of the ligand L (4,7-dicarbazol-9-yl-[1,10]-phenanthroline) are reported, as well as those of the molecular complex, [Eu(tta)(3)(L)] (1), (tta = 2-thenoyl trifluoroacetylacetonate). Their photophysical properties have been investigated both in solution and in the solid state. It was shown that the ligands used for designing 1 are well-suited for sensitizing the Eu(III) ion emission, thanks to a favorable position of the triplet state as investigated in the Gd(III) complex [Gd(tta)(3)(L)], (2). The low local symmetry of the Eu(III) ion shown by the X-ray crystal structure of 1 is also revealed by luminescence spectroscopy. Because of interesting volatility and solubility properties, 1 is shown to behave as a real molecular material that can be processed both by thermal evaporation and from solution. When doped in poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), 1 forms air-stable and highly red-emitting plastic materials that can be excited in a wide range of wavelengths from the UV to the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum (250-560 nm). Absolute quantum yields of 80% have been obtained for films comprising 1-3% of 1. Ellipsometry measurements have been introduced to gain information on physical data of 1. They have been performed on thin films of 1 deposited by thermal evaporation and gave access to the refractive index, n, and the absorption coefficient, k, as a function of the wavelength. A value of 1.70 has been found for n at 633 nm. These thin films also show interesting air-stability.

The affinity and selectivity of terdentate nitrogen ligands towards trivalent lanthanide and uranium ions viewed from the crystal structures of the 1 ∶ 3 complexes

Treatment of LnI3 (Ln = La, Ce) or [UI3(py)4] with 3 equivalents of terpy in acetonitrile gave the tris(terpy) complexes [M(terpy)3]I3. Addition of 3 equivalents of Rbtp (2,6-bis(5,6-dialkyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)pyridine) to MX3 (X = I or OSO2CF3) in pyridine or acetonitrile afforded the tris(Rbtp) compounds [M(Rbtp)3]X3. By comparison with terpy, the Rbtp ligand has a better affinity for the 4f and 5f ions and is more selective for U(III) than for Ce(III) or La(III). This trend has been revealed by 1H NMR competition experiments and X-ray crystallographic studies which show that in the [M(terpy)3]3+ and [M(Rbtp)3]3+ cations, the M–N(Rbtp) bond lengths are shorter than the M–N(terpy) bond lengths, and the U–N bond lengths are shorter than the corresponding Ce–N or La–N bond distances.

Lanthanide Complexes with Cucurbit[n]urils (n = 5, 6, 7) and Perrhenate Ligands: New Examples of Encapsulation of Perrhenate Anions

The reaction of lanthanide nitrates with cucurbit[n]urils (CBn, n = 5, 6, 7) under hydrothermal conditions in the presence of perrhenic acid and, for some of them, other reactants such as KNO(3) yielded 14 new complexes which were crystallographically characterized and present some original features. Four of the five complexes with CB5 are capsules closed by a lanthanide ion (Ce, Sm, Gd) on one side and potassium on the other and have an encapsulated bridging nitrate ion, but the fifth is a monodimensional polymer with both bidentate portals of CB5 complexed to ytterbium. All eight CB6 complexes (Ce, Pr, Sm, Gd, Yb, Lu) and the single ytterbium complex of CB7 (the first lanthanide complex of CB7 to be characterized) involve perrhenate encapsulation, in a form which is either bridging the lanthanide ions coordinated at each tridentate portal, or terminal when the CB is bidentate and the cation is further from the portal, or even noncoordinating in one case. The orientation of the cation in the cavity varies depending upon its coordination mode, as well as the nature of the shortest contacts in the cavity. Some original architectures are described, in particular a sinuous chain, ribbonlike assembly in a cerium complex of CB6 and a novel samarium-CB6 sandwich complex. The ubiquitous encapsulation of ReO(4)(-) in CB6 and CB7 may open new perspectives for the investigation of anion complexation by these macrocycles.

Easy access to stable pentavalent uranyl complexes

Reaction of UO2I2(THF)3 with 1 molar equivalent of KC5R5 (R = H, Me) in pyridine led to the uranyl(V) compound {[UO2(Py)5][KI2(Py)2]}(infinity), which is an infinite 1D polymer in its crystalline form; the UO2X(THF)n (X = I, OSO2CF3) complexes were obtained by reduction of their U(VI) parents with TlC5H5 or KC5R5 in THF.

l-Cysteine as a Chiral Linker in Lanthanide–Cucurbit[6]uril One-Dimensional Assemblies

The reaction of neodymium, europium, or terbium nitrate with cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) in the presence of the α-amino acid L-cysteine (L-cys) gives the complexes [Nd(L-cys)(CB6)(NO(3))(H(2)O)(4)]·2NO(3)·10H(2)O (1) and {[Ln(L-cys)(CB6)(H(2)O)(5)][Ln(L-cys)(CB6)(NO(3))(H(2)O)(4)]}·5NO(3)·22H(2)O with Ln = Eu (2) or Tb (3). 2 and 3 only differ from 1 by the presence of two independent metal ions in slightly different environments. In all cases, each metal atom is bound to the bidentate CB6 and the monodentate L-cys molecules, with the latter being in its zwitterionic form. The ammonium group of L-cys is directed away from CB6 and is involved in ion-dipole and hydrogen bonding interactions with the uncomplexed portal of the neighboring molecule, which gives rise to the formation of chiral one-dimensional assemblies of columnar shape.