Reduction Chemistry of Neptunium Cyclopentadienide Complexes: from Structure to Cite This: Chem
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Chemical Science View Article Online EDGE ARTICLE View Journal | View Issue Reduction chemistry of neptunium cyclopentadienide complexes: from structure to Cite this: Chem. Sci.,2017,8,2553 understanding† Michał S. Dutkiewicz,ab Christos Apostolidis,a Olaf Walter*a and Polly L. Arnold*b Neptunium complexes in the formal oxidation states II, III, and IV supported by cyclopentadienyl ligands are explored, and significant differences between Np and U highlighted as a result. A series of neptunium(III) cyclopentadienyl (Cp) complexes [Np(Cp)3], its bis-acetonitrile adduct [Np(Cp)3(NCMe)2], 0 0 anditsKCpadductK[Np(Cp)4]and[Np(Cp)3](Cp ¼ C5H4SiMe3) have been made and characterised III providing the first single crystal X-ray analyses of Np Cp complexes. In all NpCp3 derivatives there are 5 III three Cp rings in h -coordination around the Np centre; additionally in [Np(Cp)3] and K[Np(Cp)4]one 1 Cp ring establishes a m-h -interaction to one C atom of a neighbouring Np(Cp)3 unit. The solid state structure of K[Np(Cp)4] is unique in containing two different types of metal–Cp coordination III 5 Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. geometries in the same crystal. Np (Cp)4 units are found exhibiting four units of h -coordinated Cp IV rings like in the known complex [Np (Cp)4], the structure of which is now reported. A detailed comparison of the structures gives evidence for the change of ionic radii of ca. À8pmassociatedwith change in oxidation state between NpIII and NpIV. The rich redox chemistry associated with the 0 syntheses is augmented by the reduction of [Np(Cp )3]byKC8 in the presence of 2.2.2-cryptand to II II afford a neptunium(II) complex that is thermally unstable above À10 C like the U and Th complexes Received 4th January 2017 K(2.2.2-cryptand)[Th/U(Cp0) ]. Together, these spontaneous and controlled redox reactions of organo- Accepted 27th January 2017 3 neptunium complexes, along with information from structural characterisation, show the relevance of DOI: 10.1039/c7sc00034k organometallic Np chemistry to understanding fundamental structure and bonding in the minor This article is licensed under a rsc.li/chemical-science actinides. nuclei.6–8 For example, recent quantitative carbon K-edge X-ray Open Access Article. Published on 30 January 2017. Downloaded 15/05/2017 13:43:43. Introduction absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analyses on the organometallic ¼ “ ” Fiy years have passed since the foundation of organometallic [An(COT)2] (An Th, U), actinocenes provided the rst neptunium chemistry in the form of cyclopentadienyl chem- experimental evidence for extensive 4-orbital interactions in istry,1 and yet only a handful of complexes have been reported, thorocene, and remarkably little in the U analogue, with con- 9 and even fewer fully characterised.2–4 Yet increasingly, trasting trends in orbital mixing. Furthermore, a combination combined synthetic/spectroscopic/computational studies are of experimental and QTAIM computational comparisons of demonstrating how covalently binding, so, carbocyclic [M(LAr)X] (M ¼ Sm, U, Np; X ¼ Cl, I; LAr ¼ dianionic arene- 10 organometallic ligands that form actinide-ligand s-, p-, d- and bridged trans-calix[2]benzene[2]pyrrole ) showed signicant even 4-(back)bonding interactions provide an excellent plat- differences (up to 17%) in orbital contributions to M–L bonds form for advancing the fundamental understanding of the between the Ln and An analogues, and that the covalency in the differences in orbital contributions and covalency in f-block Np–ligand bonding arises from spatial orbital overlap rather 4 metal–ligand bonding.5 Understanding the subtleties are key to than a coincidental energy degeneracy. The work also demon- the safe handling and separations of the highly radioactive strated differences between U and Np in their reaction chem- istry, such as the stability of the NpII formal oxidation state or IV III aEuropean Commission, Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Security, Joint Research the reduction of Np to Np upon complexation. Centre, Postfach 2340, D-76125, Karlsruhe, Germany. E-mail: Olaf.Walter@ec. Organoneptunium chemistry has relied heavily on the À europa.eu ubiquitous cyclopentadienyl ligand, Cp ¼ (C5H5) , as a strongly bEaStCHEM School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, binding, sterically demanding yet exible, monoanion, and David Brewster Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ, UK. E-mail: [email protected] focused almost exclusively on NpIV complexes. The rst † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: General procedures, ¼ evidence for the formation of [Np(Cp)3X] (X Cl, F) came from synthetic details, spectroscopic data, X-ray crystallographic data. CCDC 238 1524162–1524166. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic a radiochemical synthesis, i.e. the irradiation of a U complex 1 ¼ format see DOI: 10.1039/c7sc00034k with thermal neutrons, and [Np(Cp)3X] (X Cl, F) were This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2017 Chem. Sci.,2017,8, 2553–2561 | 2553 View Article Online Chemical Science Edge Article subsequently reported from standard chemical routes as Results thermally robust, volatile complexes.11,12 Baumg¨artner et al. re- Syntheses ported the rst homoleptic organoneptunium complex, tetrak- h5 is( -cyclopentadienyl)neptunium(IV), [Np(Cp)4], from All the syntheses start from NpCl4. This can be directly trans- 13 treatment of NpCl4 with excess KCp in benzene. Many of the formed into [Np(Cp)4], NpCp4 by the reaction of NpCl4 with an 13 earliest studies on neptunium cyclopentadienyl complexes also excess of KCp in toluene. Single crystals of NpCp4 grow in the had the aim of exploring covalency in the bonding, using the supernatant during a prolonged extraction of the crude product fact that Np is a Mossbauer¨ active nucleus. However, not all the with pentane. The spectroscopic data agree with the literature 12,23 NpCp – 11,12 studies agreed. The rst Mossbauer¨ studies on [Np(Cp)4] and reports. 4 itself can be from a reaction with NH4Cl – NpCp Cl [Np(COT)2] suggested less interaction between the central ion converted to [Np(Cp)3Cl], 3 which is an ideal starting – and the Cp ligands but appreciable covalency in the Np COT material for the synthesis of [Np(Cp)3], NpCp3. The reduction of 14 12 bonding. On the other hand, Bohlander reported the isomer NpCp3Cl by Na/Hg in Et2Oaffords NpCp3 as its diethyl ether shi of the Np nucleus in [Np(Cp)4] closely approaches that of solvate [Np(Cp)3(Et2O)], Scheme 1. This solvent molecule is the record-breaking, covalent [Np(COT)2], thus being the most labile and can be easily removed in vacuum to afford the solvent covalent Np–Cp derivative. Finally, from analysis of the isomer free NpCp3 which is only sparingly soluble in non-coordinating shis Karraker14,15 stated that there were smaller covalent solvents due to the polymeric nature of the molecular structure bonding contributions in [Np(Cp)4] than [Np(Cp)3Cl], whereas (see below) but dissolves slowly in Et2O, THF, or MeCN, 16,17 Adrian concluded the opposite. again forming solvates [Np(Cp)3(Et2O)], [Np(Cp)3(THF)], or The redox properties of the element play a pivotal role in [Np(Cp)3(NCMe)2], NpCp3(NCMe)2, respectively. neptunium chemistry as it conventionally exhibits ve oxida- Crystals of [Np(Cp)3(Et2O)] could not be analysed via X-ray tion states in compounds, from +3 to +7.18 Recently, we reported diffraction as during the crystal mounting procedure they lose II Ar Ar that a formally Np complex Np(L )(dme) supported by L , the coordinated Et2O solvent molecule readily. Similarly, no stable Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. trans-calix[2]benzene[2]pyrrole is accessible; black solutions adducts of a lanthanide analogue [Ln(Cp)3(OEt2)] have yet been were sufficiently stable (up to 90 minutes) for spectroscopic reported. However, single crystals of the bis-acetonitrile adduct analyses but crystals were too small for single crystal diffraction NpCp3(NCMe)2 have been grown from acetonitrile solution at analyses.4 Somewhat surprisingly, given the increased stability RT and studied by X-ray diffraction. III III of the Np oxidation state compared to U , this work was also The reaction of NpCp3Cl with 1.1 equiv. of KCp in THF does the rst to report single crystal structural studies on organo- not lead to the simple Cl substitution product NpCp4.Aer 4 metallic NpIII complexes. To date, the only organometallic NpIV dreux and evaporation of the solvent, n-pentane extraction complexes characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction recovered half of the starting material NpCp3Cl (49%), and 2,19 20 are neptunocene [Np(C8H8)2], [Np(Cp)Cl3(OPPh2Me)2], a subsequent extraction with Et2Oafforded maroon single crys- This article is licensed under a 21 III K[NpCp ] [Np(Cp)3(OPh)], and two examples of the Cp3Np-functional- tals of the new, reduced, Np complex K[Np(Cp)4], 4 in ised adduct [(UO2)(THF)(H2L)] (L ¼ ‘Pacman’ Schiff-base 37% yield. When the reaction is repeated without heating the 3 polypyrrolic macrocycle), in which we studied the Cp3Np mixture, no soluble, molecular product can be isolated. NpCp0 Open Access Article. Published on 30 January 2017. Downloaded 15/05/2017 13:43:43. coordination to one oxo group of the uranyl dication to compare For the synthesis of [Np(C5H4SiMe3)3], 3 another the degree of electron transfer via the oxo-bridge between U, Np, reaction pathway was followed as no starting material [Np(C5- III and Pu cations. Structurally characterised Np organometallics H4SiMe3)3Cl] was available: NpCl3 is generated in situ from the Ar 4 are still limited to the [M(L )X] complexes we reported.