Thorium(IV) and Uranium(IV) Phosphaazaallenes

The synthesis of tetravalent thorium and uranium complexes with the phosphaazaallene moiety, [N( tBu)C=P(C 6H 5)] 2？, is described. The reaction of the bis(phosphido) complexes, (C 5Me 5) 2An[P(C 6H 5)(SiMe 3)] 2, An = Th, U, with two equivalents of tBuNC produces (C 5Me 5) 2An(CN tBu)[ η 2-( N, C)-N( tBu)C=P(C 6H 5)] with concomitant formation of P(SiMe 3) 2(C 6H 5) via silyl migration. These complexes are characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, as well as structurally determined using X-ray crystallography. View Full-Tex