Organothorium complexes containing terminal metal-ligand multiple bonds

Organoactinide complexes containing terminal metal-ligand multiple bonds have received widespread attention over the past three decades. In the last few years, significant progress has been made in the synthesis and characterization of the imido, oxo, sulfido, and carbene-containing complexes of thorium. Such thorium complexes are of interest because of their unique structural properties, their potential application in novel group transfer reactions and catalysis, as well as their ability to engage the 5f orbitals in metal-ligand bonding. This short review summarizes the synthesis and reactivity of these thorium complexes.