Binuclear Uranium(VI) Complexes with a “Pacman” Expanded Porphyrin: Computational Evidence for Highly Unusual Bis‐Actinyl Structures

Abstract On the basis of uranyl complexes reacting with a polypyrrolic ligand (H 4 L), we explored structures and reaction energies of a series of new binuclear uranium(VI) complexes using relativistic density functional theory. Full geometry optimizations on [(UO 2 ) 2 (L)], in which two uranyl groups were initially placed into the pacman ligand cavity, led to two minimum‐energy structures. These complexes with cation–cation interactions (CCI) exhibit unusual coordination modes of uranyls: one is a T‐shaped ( T ) skeleton formed by two linear uranyls {O exo U 2 O endo →U 1 (O exo ) 2 }, and another is a butterfly‐like ( B ) unit with one linear uranyl coordinating side‐by‐side to a second cis ‐uranyl. The CCI in T was confirmed by the calculated longest distance and lowest stretching vibrational frequency of U 2 O endo among the four UO bonds. Isomer B is more stable than T , for which experimental tetrameric analogues are known. The formation of B and T complexes from the mononuclear [(UO 2 )(H 2 L)(thf)] ( M ) was found to be endothermic. The further protonation and dehydration of B and T are thermodynamically favorable. As a possible product, we have found a trianglelike binuclear uranium(VI) complex having a OUOUO unit.