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ThC₂@C₈₂ versus Th@C₈₄: unexpected formation of triangular thorium carbide cluster inside fullerenes.

ABSTRACT: Synthesis of the first thorium-containing clusterfullerenes, ThC₂@C _s (6)-C₈₂ and ThC₂@C₂(5)-C₈₂, is reported. These two novel actinide fullerene compounds were characterized by mass spectrometry, single-crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations. Crystallographic studies reveal that the encapsulated ThC₂ clusters in both C _s (6)-C₈₂ and C₂(5)-C₈₂ feature a novel bonding structure with one thorium metal center connected by a C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C unit, forming an isosceles triangular configuration, which has not been hitherto observed for endohedral fullerenes or for solid phase thorium carbides. Electronic structure calculations assign a formal electronic structure of [Th⁴⁺(C₂)^2-]²⁺@[C₈₂]^2-, with pronounced donation bonding from (C₂)^2- to Th⁴⁺, secondary backbonding from the fullerene to thorium and Th-C double bond character in both compounds. This work presents a new family of endohedral fullerenes, MC₂@C_2n-2, being unexpected isomers of MC_2n , and provides broader understanding of thorium bonding.

SUBMITTER: Shen Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9667913 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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ThC2@C82 versus Th@C84: unexpected formation of triangular thorium carbide cluster inside fullerenes.

Shen Yi Y Yu Xiaojuan X Meng Qingyu Q Yao Yang-Rong YR Autschbach Jochen J Chen Ning N

Chemical science 20221020 44

Synthesis of the first thorium-containing clusterfullerenes, ThC2@C s (6)-C82 and ThC2@C2(5)-C82, is reported. These two novel actinide fullerene compounds were characterized by mass spectrometry, single-crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations. Crystallographic studies reveal that the encapsulated ThC2 clusters in both C s (6)-C82</su ...[more]

PMID: 36425487

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Project description:Chemical functionalization of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) is essential for the application of these novel carbon materials. Actinide EMFs, a new EMF family member, have presented unique molecular and electronic structures but their chemical properties remain unexplored. Here, for the first time, we report the chemical functionalization of actinide EMFs, in which the photochemical reaction of Th@C 3v(8)-C82 and U@C 2v(9)-C82 with 2-adamantane-2,3'-[3H]-diazirine (AdN2, 1) was systematically investigated. The combined HPLC and MALDI-TOF analyses show that carbene addition by photochemical reaction afforded three isomers of Th@C 3v(8)-C82Ad and four isomers of U@C 2v(9)-C82Ad (Ad = adamantylidene), presenting notably higher reactivity than their lanthanide analogs. Among these novel EMF derivatives, Th@C 3v(8)-C82Ad(I, II, III) and U@C 2v(9)-C82Ad(I, II, III) were successfully isolated and were characterized by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy. In particular, the molecular structures of first actinide fullerene derivatives, Th@C 3v(8)-C82Ad(I) and U@C 2v(9)-C82Ad(I), were unambiguously determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography, both of which show a [6,6]-open cage structure. In addition, isomerization of Th@C 3v(8)-C82Ad(II), Th@C 3v(8)-C82Ad(III), U@C 2v(9)-C82Ad(II) and U@C 2v(9)-C82Ad(III) was observed at room temperature. Computational studies suggest that the attached carbon atoms on the cages of both Th@C 3v(8)-C82Ad(I) and U@C 2v(9)-C82Ad(I) have the largest negative charges, thus facilitating the electrophilic attack. Furthermore, it reveals that, compared to their lanthanide analogs, Th@C 3v(8)-C82 and U@C 2v(9)-C82 have much closer metal-cage distance, increased metal-to-cage charge transfer, and strong metal-cage interactions stemming from the significant contribution of extended Th-5f and U-5f orbitals to the occupied molecular orbitals, all of which give rise to their unusual high reactivity. This study provides first insights into the exceptional chemical properties of actinide endohedral fullerenes, which pave ways for the future functionalization and application of these novel EMF compounds.

Dataset Information

ThC₂@C₈₂ versus Th@C₈₄: unexpected formation of triangular thorium carbide cluster inside fullerenes.

Publications

ThC<sub>2</sub>@C<sub>82</sub> <i>versus</i> Th@C<sub>84</sub>: unexpected formation of triangular thorium carbide cluster inside fullerenes.

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