Hydroboration of Nitrile Catalyzed by U(N(TMS)2)3 and Synthesis of Janus
Bis(imidazoline-2-iminato) Actinide Complexes
The catalytic activity of the complex UIII[N(TMS)3] is presented for the selective dihydroboration
of nitriles with pinacol borane (HBpin). This complex displayed high
activity in the catalytic hydroboration of aromatic, aliphatic, and hetero-atom
aromatic nitriles under mild conditions, providing a facile and highly efficient strategy
for the preparation of di-borated amines. Kinetic studies reveal first-order
dependence on both U(III) and HBpin, and zero-order dependence on the nitriles. In
addition, the synthesis of the first Janus bis imidazoline-2-iminato actinide (IV)
complexes (1-2), [(Bimt-Bu/MeN)AnN”3]2 (An=U, Th; N”=N(SiMe3)2), was performed by
the protonolysis of the actinide metallacycle with the respective neutral benz-bisimidazoline-
2-iminato ligand precursor. Full characterization, including X-ray
diffraction studies for both complexes, is reported.