Theoretical studies on the lanthanide and actinide triflate complexes M(OTf) n where M = La, Ce, Gd, Yb, Lu, Th, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, and No; n = 3 and 4, are carried out using functional density theory (DFT). The study of An(OTf) 3 complexes showed that the three OTf groups are bidentate, generating a trigonal prism (TP). Two limiting structures of TP are observed; the most distorted is the thorium triflate Th(OTf) 3 and the ideal one is U(OTf) 3 . The highest population contribution of 5d orbital compared to 5f orbital in Th-O bond of Th(OTf) 3 explains the distortion. The intramolecular rearrangement of the OTf ligands in Ln(OTf) 3 generates two conformers. In Yb(OTf) 3 , the pseudo-eclipsed and the staggered conformations are stable and can be isolated.