From a mercury(ii) bis(yldiide) complex to actinide yldiides

Abstract

The bis(yldiide) mercury complex, (L–Hg–L) [L = C(PPh₃)P(S)Ph₂], is prepared from the corresponding potassium yldiide and used to access the first substituted yldiide actinide complexes [(C₅Me₅)₂An(L)(Cl)] (An = U, Th) via salt metathesis. Compared to previously reported phosphinocarbene complexes, the complexes exhibit long actinide–carbon distances, which can be explained by the strong polarization of the π-electron density toward carbon.