Halide Effects in the Synthesis of Mixed Uranium(IV) Aryloxide-Halide Compounds.

Several uranium(IV) aryloxide and mixed aryloxide-halide compounds of the formula UX(4)(-)(z)()(OAr)(z)() (X = Cl, Br, I; OAr = 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide; z = 2, 3, 4) have been prepared by the reaction of KOAr with the appropriate uranium tetrahalide in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The complex UI(4)(CH(3)CN)(4) reacts with 2 equiv of KOAr in THF to yield the compound I(2)U(OAr)(2) (1). The utility of this reaction is limited by the instability of UI(4)(CH(3)CN)(4) in THF, however, and isolated yields of the THF adduct of 1 do not exceed 50%.