Formation of Inclusion Organoactinide Complexes with Boron-Containing Macrocycles

Reaction of the organoactinide complexes (C₅Me₅)₂AnMe₂ (An = Th, U) with catecholborane yields an inclusion complex where the actinide is encapsulated inside a 15-membered, hexaoxo, trianionic macrocycle built from alternating catechol and catecholborate fragments. In the presence of LiOH, a dimer of two encapsulated actinide macrocycles is formed. The X-ray molecular structure for all the complexes is presented.