The direct electrochemical synthesis of neutral and anionic complexes of thorium(IV)

Abstract

The electrochemical oxidation of thorium into solutions of halogen (X 2 ; X = Cl, Br) in acetonitrile yields the adducts ThX 4• 4CH 3 CN in good yield. With solutions of X 2 + R 4 NX, the products are (R 4 N) 2 ThX 6 . Neutral chelate complexes such as Th(acac) 4 (acac = 2,4-pentanedionate) can also be prepared in a one-step synthesis from the metal, but cationic complexes could not be obtained by electrochemical methods.