Small molecule activation at uranium coordination complexes: control of reactivity via molecular architecture

Abstract

Electron-rich uranium coordination complexes display a pronounced reactivity toward small molecules. In this Feature article, the exciting chemistry of trivalent uranium ions coordinated to classic Werner-type ligand environments is reviewed. Three fundamentally important reactions of the [((^RArO)₃tacn)U]-system are presented that result in alkane coordination, CO/CO₂ activation, and nitrogen atom-transfer chemistry.