Thorium complexes primarily exist in the thermodynamically stable (IV) oxidation state, with limited examples of low-valent thorium(III) complexes known. As a result, redox chemistry with thorium is challenging without carefully designed ligand environments. This redox-restricted nature of thorium(IV) makes redox-active ligands an attractive option to facilitate multi-electron redox chemistry. In this work, a series of thorium(IV) complexes featuring the redox-active iminoquinone ligand and its derivatives, including the iminosemiquinone and amidophenolate species, were synthesized and isolated. Spectroscopic and structural characterization of each derivative established the +4 oxidation state for thorium with redox chemistry occurring on the ligand. Magnetic studies confirmed the formation of a new thorium species featuring three ligand radicals as well.

Multi-electron redox chemistry with thorium(IV) iminoquinone complexes

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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