PNNL

Abstract

Transition metal carbonyl complexes, M(CO)n, are cornerstonesof modern coordination chemistry and organometallic chemistry. Carbon monoxide activation and reduction by transition metal toms are important in a great many industrial processes. By contrast, the coordination chemistry of CO with the actinide elements is a relatively new area of research, in part because of the experimental challenges faced in handling and characterizing actinide complexes. Some organouranium carbonyl complexes have been synthesized, and carbon monoxide activation by organoactinide complexes has also been studied. Although thorium is one of the easier-to-handle actinide elements, its chemistry with CO and the differences between thorium and uranium carbonyl chemistry have been entirely unexplored.