Molecular actinide compounds with soft chalcogen ligands

• Ligands contain S, Se and Te atoms coordinated to U, Th and trans-uranium metals.
• Activation of small molecules afforded high-valent complexes.
• Analogous complexes allowed comparison of the Ln—E and An—E bonding.
• Covalency with major f orbital character in the An—E bonding was probed by theory.
• Structural findings are of relevance to the efficiency of extractant ligands.

A comprehensive review of molecular actinide complexes with ligands containing soft donor chalcogen atoms (S, Se, Te), highlighting the more recent advances, is presented.

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