Strictly heterodinuclear compounds containing U and Cu or Ni ions

Treatment of [M(H₂Lⁱ)] with UCl₄ in pyridine led to the formation of the dinuclear complexes [MLⁱ(py)UCl₂(py)₂] and/or [Hpy][MLⁱ(py)UCl₃] [Lⁱ = N,N′-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-R, R = 1,2-phenylenediamine (i = 1), R = trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine (i = 2), R = 2-amino-benzylamine (i = 3), R = 1,3-propanediamine (i = 4), R = 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (i = 5); M = Cu or Ni]. The crystal structures show that the 3d and 5f ions occupy, respectively, the N₂O₂ and O₄ cavities of the Schiff base ligand, the U⁴⁺ ion adopting a dodecahedral or pentagonal bipyramidal configuration in the neutral and anionic complexes, respectively.