Polarised covalent thorium(iv)- A nd uranium(iv)-silicon bonds

Abstract

We report the synthesis and characterisation of isostructural thorium(iv)- A nd uranium(iv)-silanide actinide (An) complexes, providing an opportunity to directly compare Th-Si and U-Si chemicalbonds. Quantum chemical calculations show significant and surprisingly similar An:Si, 7s-, 6d-, and5f-orbital contributions from both elements in polarised covalent An-Si bonds, and marginally greater covalency in the U-Si vs. Th-Si linkages.