Solid-state structure of tris-cyclopentadienide uranium(III) and plutonium(III)

The organometallic tris-cyclopentadienide actinide(III) (AnCp₃) complexes were first reported about 50 years ago. However, up until now, only the NpCp₃ solid state structure has been studied. Here we report on the solid state structures of UCp₃ and PuCp₃ which are isostructural to the Np analogue. The structural models are supported by theoretical calculations and compared to their lanthanide analogues. The observed trends in changes of bond lengths might be indicator for an increased covalency in the bonding in the tris-cyclopentadienide actinide(III) complexes (AnCp₃) compared to their lanthanide homologues. (copyright 2018 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA.)