Synthesis and structure of a bis-N-heterocyclic carbene complex of uranium tetrachloride exhibiting short Cl⋯Ccarbene contacts

Abstract

Treatment of UCl₄ with one or two equivalents of IPr [IPr = {C(NArCH)₂}, Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl] gives [UCl₄(IPr)₂] as the sole isolable uranium-containing containing product; an X-ray diffraction study showed close Cl⋯C_carbene contacts, but DFT analysis suggests the contacts are the result of aryl chloride steric repulsions as the Cl⋯C orbital interaction is negligible.