Coordination Chemistry of Homoleptic Actinide(IV)-Thiocyanate Complexes
Here, the synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, vibrational and optical spectroscopy for the eight-coordinate thiocyanate compounds, [Et 4 N] 4 [Pu IV (NCS) 8 ], [Et 4 N] 4 [Th IV (NCS) 8 ], and [Et 4 N] 4 [Ce III (NCS) 7 (H 2 O)] are reported. Thiocyanate was found to rapidly reduce plutonium to Pu III in acidic solutions (pH<1) in the presence of NCS – . The optical spectrum of [Et 4 N][SCN] containing Pu III solution was indistinguishable from that of aquated Pu III suggesting that inner-sphere complexation with [Et 4 N][SCN] does not occur in water. However, upon concentration, the homoleptic thiocyanate complex [Et 4 N] 4 [Pu IV (NCS) 8 ] was crystallized when a large excess of [Et 4 N][NCS] was present. This compound, along with its U IV analogue, maintains inner-sphere thiocyanate coordination in acetonitrile based on the observation of intense ligand-to-metal charge-transfer bands. Spectroscopic and crystallographic data do not support the interaction of the metal orbitals with the ligand π system, but support an enhanced An IV –NCS interaction, as the Lewis acidity of the metal ion increases from Th to Pu.