The direct electrochemical synthesis of neutral and anionic complexes of thorium(IV)

Abstract

The electrochemical oxidation of thorium into solutions of halogen (X2; X = Cl, Br) in acetonitrile yields the adducts ThX4•4CH3CN in good yield. With solutions of X2 + R4NX, the products are (R4N)2ThX6. Neutral chelate complexes such as Th(acac)4 (acac = 2,4-pentanedionate) can also be prepared in a one-step synthesis from the metal, but cationic complexes could not be obtained by electrochemical methods.