Reactivity of the actinoid–carbon σ bond: reaction of [(Me3Si)2N]2MCH2Si(Me)2NSiMe3 with acidic hydrogen, ready C–H activation

Abstract

The metal-carbon bond of the four-membered metallacycles [(Me₃Si)₂N]₂[graphic ommitted]SiMe₃(M = U,Th) reacts under mild conditions with acidic hydrogen of alcohols, phenols, and alkynes, with pyridine to give the orthometallated products from sp²C–H activation, and with metal hydrides to five stable binuclear compounds with an isocarbonyl linkage, whereas cyclopentadienes cleave the metal–nitrogen bond providing biscyclopentadienyl four-membered metallacycles.