Synthesis and characterization of the actinide tosylimido complexes [K (18-crown-6)][An(NSO2-p-tolyl)(NR2)3] (An = U, Th; R=SiMe3)

Reaction of 1 equiv of KN(H)Ts (Ts = p-MeC6H4SO2) with the actinide metallacycles, [AnIV(CH2SiMe2NSiMe3) (NR2)2] (An = U, Th; R = SiMe3), in the presence of 18-crown-6, affords the imido complexes, [K(18-crown-6)] [AnIV(NTs)(NR2)3] (An = U, 1; Th, 2), in modest to moderate yields after work-up. Both complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography and 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopies. To our knowledge, they represent the first sulfonylimido complexes reported for the f elements. They are also a rare example of an isostructural set of actinide imido complexes.