The Inverse Trans Influence in a novel Uranium(IV)bis(carbene) Complex

The trans influence is an extensively investigated electronic concept in transition metal chemistry. It can be defined as the extent to which a bond in trans position to a ligand L is weakened.[1,2] In contrast, f-block elements exhibit an opposite effect, meaning a bond shortening and thus strengthening can be observed in the trans position to a strongly donating ligand. This is established as the inverse trans influence (ITI),[3–5] and is commonly assumed to be most prominent for actinides in high oxidation states.
A novel UIVbis(carbene) complex [UIV(L¹)₂(TMSA)Cl₃] 1 (L¹ = iPr₂Im, TMSA = (N(SiMe₃)₂)−) was synthesized by salt metathesis from UCl4 in the presence of iPrImHCl and TMSA. In the complex, the U centre is surrounded by two carbenes, three chloro- and one TMSA-ligand. The U–Cl bond in trans position to the TMSA is slightly shorter (0.01 Å) compared to the other U–Cl bonds, indicating an TMSA-induced ITI. However, this change is very small. For comparison, a structural optimization based on the SC-XRD data of 1 was carried out using tetravalent tungsten as a d-block analogue, because of its similar ionic radius to UIV. Tungsten’s transition metal behaviour should result in a trans influence. In the WIVbis(carbene) complex 2, the W–Cl bond trans to the TMSA ligand is indeed 0.05 Å longer than the other W–Cl bonds. This large change expresses the existence of a strong trans influence in 2 and hence ITI in 1.
References:
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