A Molecular Actinide–Tellurium Bond and Comparison of Bonding in [MIII{N(TePiPr2)2}3] (M=U, La)

Are the actinides going soft? The first molecular complexes containing an actinide–tellurium bond, [U{N(TePiPr2)2}3] (see picture) and the isostructural complex [La{N(TePiPr2)2}3] have been crystallographically characterized. The UIIITe bond is shorter than the LaIIITe bond by 0.06 Å, which suggests a greater degree of covalency in the bonding of actinides with soft donors.