Revisiting the bis(dimethylamido) metallocene complexes of thorium and uranium: improved syntheses, structure, spectroscopy, and redox energetics of (C5Me5)2An(NMe2)2 (An = Th, U).

The reaction of (C5Me5)2AnCl2 (An = Th, U) with 2.8 or 4 equivalents of LiNMe2, respectively, affords (C5Me5)2An(NMe2)2 in high yields. In addition to improved syntheses, the solid-state structures, voltammetric data, and UV-visible-NIR spectra for these classic actinide bis(dimethylamido) complexes are presented for the first time.