Thorium(IV) and uranium(IV) coordination complexes have been studied for the last 60 years. They have shown interesting reactivity that is often divergent from that of transition metal complexes, and that also provides an insight into some unanticipated differences between thorium(IV) and uranium(IV). An introduction to thorium(IV) and uranium(IV) organometallic chemistry supported by carbocyclic and N-donor ligands is given in Chapter One. The reactivity of actinide alkyl, amide and alkynyl complexes towards small molecules is discussed and select examples provided. The redox chemistry of thorium and uranium is also introduced. Chapter Two describes the alkylation and amination chemistry of uranium(IV) and thorium(IV) trans-calix[2]benzene[2]pyrrolide ((L)2-) complexes, [(L)AnCl2], yielding new actinide(IV) complexes of the type [M(L-2H)An(R)] (M = Li or K, R = Me, CH2SiMe3, CH2Ph, N(SiMe3)2), where (L)2- undergoes further deprotonation to (L-2H)4-. Additionally, the lability of the [M(L-2H)An(R)] “ate”-complexes towards M+ ion exchange is addressed. Further, the selective ligand reprotonation of (L-2H)4- to (L)2- using HSiR'3 (R' = Me, iPr) and [Et3NH][BPh4] yielding [(L)An(C≡CSiR'3)2] and [(L)An(R)][BPh4] respectively, is explained. The reactivity of these complexes towards amines, silanes, alkenes, tin hydrides, silicone grease, tBuNC, H2, CO, CO2 or CS2 is described. Crystallographic characterisation shows that [(L)Th(N(SiMe3)2)][BPh4] contains an unusual example of a thorium(IV) bis-arene coordination mode. The reactivity of [(L)Th(C≡CSiMe3)2] towards a number of substrates including alkenes, [Ni(COD)2], [Pt(norbornene)3], P4, CO2 or H2 is also discussed. Activation of CO2 by [(L)Th(C≡CSiMe3)2] at 80 °C results in (L)2- functionalisation and abstraction to yield a new tricyclic organic molecule with the general formula LCO. The addition of [Ni(COD)2] to [(L)Th(C≡CSiMe3)2] and PR''3 (R'' = phenyl, cyclohexyl) yields heterobimetallic complexes [(L)Th(C≡CSiMe3)2·Ni(PR''3)]; these products display both dipyrrolic and bis-arene coordination. The changes in ligand coordination mode are discussed alongside DFT computational analyses that have been carried out by collaborators. The substitution reactions of [(L)AnCl2] with NaBH4 to form actinide(IV) borohydride complexes [(L)An(BH4)2] and subsequent attempted abstractions of BH3 from [(L)Th(BH4)2] are presented. Conclusions are provided at the end of the chapter. Chapter Three focusses on the oxidation chemistry of uranium(IV) within the (L)2- and (L-2H)4- ligand framework, prompted by the isolation of a uranium(V) complex [Li[(L)UO2]·LiI] from the oxidation of the uranium(IV) complex [Li(L-2H)U(Me)]. Conclusions are provided at the end of the chapter. Experimental methods and characterising data are given in Chapter Four.

High-valent iron-oxo intermediates play central roles as active oxidants in enzymatic and synthetic catalytic oxidations. Many transition metal catalysts are designed for biomimetic studies of the predominant oxidation catalysts in Nature, the cytochrome P450 enzymes. In this work, a new photochemical method to generate high-valent iron-oxo porphyrin models was discovered. As controlled by the electronic nature of porphyrin ligands, iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin radical cations (Compound I model) and iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin derivatives (Compound II model) were produced. These observations indicate that the photochemical reactions involve a heterolytic cleavage of O-Br in precursors to give a putative iron(V)-oxo intermediate, which might relax to Compound I through electron transfer from porphyrin to the iron or undergo rapid comproportionation reaction with residual iron(III) to afford the Compound II derivative. Furthermore, visible light photolysis of bis-porphyrins-dimanganese(III)-μ-oxo complexes, [MnIII(Por)]2O, was studied in three porphyrin systems. Direct conversion of manganese(III)-μ-oxo dimers to manganese(IV)-oxo porphyrins [MnIV(Por)(O)] and manganese(III) products was observed in benzene solution upon light irradiation. The spectral signature of [MnIV(Por)(O)] was further confirmed by production of the same species in the reported reaction of the [MnIII(Por)Cl] with PhI(OAc)2. Continuous irradiation of bis-porphyrins-dimanganese(III)-μ-oxo complexes in the presence of pyridine or triphenylphospine gave rise to the formation of [MnII(Por)(Py)] or [MnII(Por)(PPh3)], which are stable to be detected. A photo-disproportionation mechanism similar to that for bis-porphyrins-diiron(III)-μ-oxo complex was proposed to explain above photochemical behaviors of bis-porphyrins-dimanganese(III)-μ-oxo complexes. With iodobenzene diacetate [PhI(OAc)2] as the oxygen source, manganese(III) porphyrin complexes exhibit remarkable catalytic activity towards the selective oxidation of alkenes and activated hydrocarbons. Conspicuous is the fact that the readily soluble PhI(OAc)2 in the presence of a small amount of water is more efficient oxygen source than the commonly used PhIO under same conditions. High selectivity for epoxides and excellent catalytic efficiency with up to 10,000 Turnovers (TONs) were achieved in alkene epoxidations. A manganese(IV)-oxo porphyrin was observed in the oxidation of the manganese(III) porphyrin and PhI(OAc)2. However, catalytic competition and Hammett studies suggested that the more reactive manganese(V)-oxo intermediate was favored as the premier active oxidant, even it is too short-lived to be detected in the catalytic reaction.

L’oxydation catalytique des liaisons C-H, en condition aérobie est l’une des réactions « phare » de la chimie, aussi bien d’un point de vue fondamental qu’industriel. Le principal défi consiste en l’utilisation de l’oxygène moléculaire comme oxydant « vert » pour l’activation de ces liaisons C-H. De nombreuses métalloprotéines, telles que les mono-oxygénases (Fe, Cu), sont capables de réaliser ces réactions dans des conditions douces. Une stratégie actuelle consiste à développer des systèmes synthétiques capables de reproduire de manière efficace les propriétés catalytiques de ces enzymes. L’objectif principal de nos travaux a été de synthétiser et de caractériser des modèles de mono-oxygénases solubles (sMMO) et membranaires (pMMO). Deux approches ont été développées. La première a consisté à élaborer des ligands ditopiques dissymétriques, dont les deux sites de coordination tris-(2-pyridymethyl)amine “TPA” et pyridinedicarboxamide “PydCA”, sont enclavés dans un seul macrocycle afin de favoriser une distance intermétallique optimale. La seconde stratégie est basée sur la synthèse de ligands ditopiques où les motifs coordinants, tetraazacyclotetradecane “cyclam” et dipicolylamine “DPA”, sont séparés par un espaceur de type phényle. Ces deux approches ont conduit à l’obtention et à la caractérisation, à l’état solide (structure aux rayons X) et en solution (spectroscopie, électrochimie), de nombreux complexes mono et dinucléaires du fer, du cuivre et du cobalt. L’étude de la réactivité de certains complexes mononucléaires vis-à-vis des oxydants tels que O2 et H2O2, en l’absence de substrats organiques, a permis d’identifier des espèces métal-oxygène. L’oxydation catalytique de substrats organiques a également été réalisée. / Catalytic oxydation of C-H bonds using molecular oxygen as ‘green’ oxidant remains a great challenge from both fundamental and industrial point of views. Many metalloproteins, such as copper end iron-based mono-oxygenases are able to perform these reactions under mild conditions. A current strategy is to develop synthetic complexes which can reproduce the efficiency of such enzymes. The main objective of our work has been to synthesize and characterize new models of soluble (sMMO) and particulate (pMMO) mono-oxygenases. Two approaches have been developed. The first strategy was to synthesize unsymmetrical dinucleating ligands bearing two coordination sites, tris-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine “TPA” and pyridinedicarboxamide “PydCA”, which are embedded in a single macrocycle to favor intermetallic interaction. The second strategy is based on the synthesis of dinucleating ligands where coordinating patterns, tetraazacyclotetradecane “cyclam” and dipicolylamine “DPA”, are separated by a phenyl type spacer. These two approaches have led to the formation and characterization in the solid state (X-ray structure) and in solution (spectroscopy, electrochemistry) of many mononuclear and dinuclear iron, copper and cobalt complexes. The study of the reactivity of some mononuclear complexes towards oxidants such as O2 and H2O2, in absence of organic substrates, has led to the identification of metal-oxygen species. Catalytic oxidation of organic substrates was also conducted.

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