Uranium pinacolates as intermediates in the reductive coupling of ketones; X-ray crystal structure of a thf solvate of the uranium bisbenzopinacolate U(Ph4C2O2)2(thf)2(thf = tetrahydrofuran)

Abstract

The uranium benzopinacolates U(Ph₄C₂O₂)Cl₂1 and U(Ph₄C₂O₂)₂(thf)₂2 were isolated from the reaction of benzophenone with UCl₄ and Na(Hg) and gave benzopinacol by hydrolysis or tetraphenylethylene after treatment with sodium amalgam; complex 2 adopts a distorted cis-octahedral configuration in the solid state.