Oxidative halogenation with trityl chloride provides convenient access to Ce(IV) and U(IV) chloroamides [M(N{SiMe(3)}(2))(3)Cl] and their N-heterocyclic carbene derivatives, [M(L)(N{SiMe(3)}(2))(2)Cl] (L = OCMe(2)CH(2)(CNCH(2)CH(2)NDipp) Dipp = 2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)). Computational analysis of the bonding in these and a fluoro analogue, [U(L)(N{SiMe(3)}(2))(2)F], provides new information on the covalency in this relative rare oxidation state for molecular cerium complexes. Computational studies reveal increased Mayer bond orders in the actinide carbene bond compared with the lanthanide carbene bond, and natural and atoms-in-molecules analyses suggest greater overall ionicity in the cerium complexes than in the uranium analogues.

for collection of some of the analytical data, and Sasol Technology UK (studentship for Z. R. T.), the UK EPSRC (fellowship for P. L. A.) and the University of Edinburgh for funding. Supporting information:[ † ] Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental and crystallographic details (CCDC reference numbers 775504 and 775505) and spectroscopic data. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see http://dx. AbstractA simple coordination complex of uranium(III), a uranium tris(amide), can selectively couple gaseous CO to the linear ynediolate [OCCO] 2− dianion, at room temperature and pressure, regardless of the reagent stoichiometry. This product exhibits further reactivity upon warming in the form of the addition of a C-H bond of a methyl group across the C C triple bond, this second carbon-carbonbond forming reaction generating a functionalised enediolate dianion.

This tutorial review highlights the most promising methods for the preparation of well-defined copper metal and oxide nanocrystals. These methodologies could be applied to other metals. We present the main synthetic strategies and associated mechanisms to control monodispersity, size, morphology and structure of metal and oxide nanomaterials which can adopt spherical, polyhedral, cubic, rod, wire, plate shapes and possibly hollow structures. We also consider the scale-up of the production of these nanocrystals, which is crucial for a wide range of potential applications such as catalysis, photovoltaics, electronics, optics and electrocatalysis.

The synthesis of magnesium and zinc complexes of bidentate anionic alkoxide ligands with saturated-backbone carbene groups is reported. Mono(ligand) and bis(ligand) complexes [M(L(R))N''](2) and [M(L(R))(2)] (M = Mg, Zn, N'' = N(SiMe(3))(2), L(R) = [OCMe(2)CH(2){CNCH(2)CH(2)NR}] R = (i)Pr, Mes, Dipp) have been isolated, and some structurally characterised and compared with the new unsaturated carbene complex [Mg(L)(2)]. Reactions with silyl halides show either addition across the metal carbene bond, or across the metal alkoxide bond, in accordance with the metals' electronegativity difference: the metal alkoxide bonds are stronger for Mg(II) complexes, for which the carbene is silylated to form zwitterionic [MgI(Me(3)SiL(R))N''] (Me(3)SiL(R) = OCMe(2)CH(2){Me(3)SiCNCH(2)CH(2)NR}) while the metal-bound alkoxide group is silylated in the Zn(II) complexes forming [ZnI(Me(3)SiOL(R))N''] (Me(3)SiOL(R) = Me(3)SiOCMe(2)CH(2){CNCH(2)CH(2)NR}). The proligand [HL(R)] is silylated at the alcohol group, forming the iodide salt [Me(3)SiOCMe(2)CH(2){HCNCH(2)CH(2)NR}]I.Preliminary results on the use of these complexes as initiators for the polymerisation of rac-lactide are reported, and suggest different initiation mechanisms are occurring for the two metals, in agreement with the different silylation reactivity observed. The polymerisation reactions are facile at room temperature even without an initiator, and yield polymers of reasonable molecular weight and heterotacticity and with good PDI. These are the first magnesium NHC complexes demonstrated to effect lactide polymerisation.Also, an adduct instead of the anticipated potassium alkoxycarbene is generated from the reaction of the proligand [HL(R)] with potassium amide KN''; this has been structurally characterised.

Dimethylindenyl-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of titanium(IV), titanium(III), zirconium(IV), and vanadium(III) were prepared from potassium indenylcarbenes by salt elimination reactions. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that in the complexes the ligand adopts a bidentate coordination mode. Alkanolysis of a dimethylindene-functionalized imidazolium salt with Y(CH 2 SiMe 3 ) 3 (THF) 2 gave rise to a dimeric yttrium bromo alkyl in which the ligand adopts a bidentate coodination mode. Aminolysis of the fluorene-functionalized imidazolium salts with {[Cr(N(SiMe 3 ) 2 ) 2 (THF) 2 } led to chromium(II) complexes in which the ligand adopts a monodentate binding mode via the N-heterocyclic carbene end with dangling fluorene groups.