Seventeen-Coordinate Actinide Helium Complexes

The geometries and electronic structures of molecular ions featuring He atoms complexed to actinide cations are explored computationally using density functional and coupled cluster theories. A new record coordination number is established, as AcHe₁₇³⁺, ThHe₁₇⁴⁺, and PaHe₁₇⁴⁺ are all found to be true geometric minima, with the He atoms clearly located in the first shell around the actinide. Analysis of AcHe_n³⁺ (n=1–17) using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) confirms these systems as having closed shell, charge-induced dipole bonding. Excellent correlations (R²>0.95) are found between QTAIM metrics (bond critical point electron densities and delocalization indices) and the average Ac−He distances, and also with the incremental He binding energies.