On the Uranium-To-Carbon Bonds in Cp3UL Complexes

Abstract

The nature of U-C bonding in Cp3UL (Cp = cyclopentadienyl, L = Me, C{â}‰\textexclamdownCH, CHPH3) and CpU[(CH2)(CH2)PH2]3 was studied using EHMO calcns. Obsd. U-C distances in known related complexes parallel calcd. overlap populations. Covalency in the U-C (alkyl) {Ï}ƒ bond is strong, while the U-Cp {Ï}€ bond has weak covalent character, if any. However, covalency in the U-CHPH3 and U-C{â}‰\textexclamdownCH bonds is enhanced, as measured by overlap population, due to addnl. {Ï}€ interactions, thus indicating U-C multiple bond character. Population anal. indicates that covalency of U-C {Ï}ƒ bonds is nearly as strong as that of the Fe-C (Me) bond in CpFeMe(CO)2. [on SciFinder(R)]