Synthesis of the stable UO2I2, the last of the uranyl dihalides. X-Ray crystal structure of [UO2I2(py)3]Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: full experimental details. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b4/b400717d/

Treatment of UO2(OTf)2 with pure Me3SiI led to the quantitative formation of UO2I2 (1). This compound dissolved in pyridine and thf to give the red adducts [UO2I2L3][L = py (2) or thf (3)], which were also obtained from the metathetical reaction of UO2(OTf)2 and KI. The crystal structure of has been determined. The uranyl diiodide complexes - are thermally quite stable, providing that strictly anhydrous conditions are employed.