[UF6]2−: A Molecular Hexafluorido Actinide(IV) Complex with Compensating Spin and Orbital Magnetic Moments

Kasper Steen Pedersen*, Katie R. Meihaus, Andrei Rogalev, Fabrice Wilhelm, Daniel Aravena, Martín Amoza, Eliseo Ruiz, Jeffrey R. Long, Jesper Bendix, Rodolphe Clérac

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

The first structurally characterized hexafluorido complex of a tetravalent actinide ion, the [UF6]2− anion, is reported in the (NEt4)2[UF6]⋅2 H2O salt (1). The weak magnetic response of 1 results from both UIV spin and orbital contributions, as established by combining X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy and bulk magnetization measurements. The spin and orbital moments are virtually identical in magnitude, but opposite in sign, resulting in an almost perfect cancellation, which is corroborated by ab initio calculations. This work constitutes the first experimental demonstration of a seemingly non‐magnetic molecular actinide complex carrying sizable spin and orbital magnetic moments.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAngewandte Chemie
Volume131
Issue number44
Pages (from-to)15797-15801
Number of pages6
ISSN0044-8249
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Electronic structure
  • Fluorides
  • Magnetic properties
  • Uranium
  • X-ray spectroscopy

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