The controlled manipulation of the axial oxo and equatorial halide ligands in the uranyl dipyrrin complex, UOCl(L), allows the uranyl reduction potential to be shifted by 1.53 V into the range accessible to naturally occurring reductants that are present during uranium remediation and storage processes. Abstraction of the equatorial halide ligand to form the uranyl cation causes a 780 mV positive shift in the U/U reduction potential. Borane functionalization of the axial oxo groups causes the spontaneous homolysis of the equatorial U-Cl bond and a further 750 mV shift of this potential. The combined effect of chloride loss and borane coordination to the oxo groups allows reduction of U to U by H or other very mild reductants such as Cp*Fe. The reduction with H is accompanied by a B-C bond cleavage process in the oxo-coordinated borane.

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