Chemistry of uranium and thorium complexes towards challenging transformation: A recent trends

Over the last hundred years, significant progress has been made in the chemistry of organo-f complexes, enhancing our understanding of their reactivity in both stoichiometric and catalytic processes. In the last three decades, there has been a significant rise in interest surrounding the electrophilic d⁰/fⁿ chemistry of organo-f element complexes, attributable to their distinctive structure–reactivity relationships and remarkable efficacy in homogeneous catalysis. The influence of ligand design, encompassing electronic and steric considerations, on the catalytic efficacy of organo-f-complexes in diverse organic reactions is now broadly acknowledged. Notable progress in actinide chemistry has underscored their unique efficacy compared to lanthanides and transition metals. The stability of low-valent actinide complexes and the function of 5f orbitals in bonding and reactivity are, nevertheless, issues that continue to be extensively debated. Although actinides may share certain characteristics with transition metals in their chemical behaviors, they frequently reveal complementary or even enhanced reactivity. The increasing number of records in the Cambridge database highlights their escalating significance, facilitating more advanced chemical designs. The conventional view of actinide complexes as highly oxophilic has been limited by catalytic poisoning, which has restricted their use in oxygen-related processes. As a result, applications for these compounds have mostly found usage in cyclic ester polymerization, small-molecule activation, and hydroelementation. This review presents a comprehensive update on the synthesis, characteristics, and applications of important organoactinide complexes in organic processes. In conclusion, we present our Quo Vadis perspective, posing critical inquiries and articulating our insights regarding the future trends and advancements in this domain.