A formal high oxidation state inverse-sandwich diuranium complex: A new route to f-block-metal bonds

U-Co bond: Reduction of [U(TsXy)(Cl)(thf)] [1; TsXy=HC(SiMe2NAr)3; Ar=3,5-Me2C6H3] with KC8in toluene afforded the new arene-bridged diuranium complex 2, whereas reduction of 1 in aliphatic hydrocarbons resulted in C-N bond activation and formation of an imido-aryl complex, which exhibits an unusual ferromagnetic interaction between the two uranium centers. The synthetic utility of 2 was demonstrated by the first synthesis of a U-Co complex, [U(TsXy)Co(CO)3(PPh3)] (3). Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim