Influence of steric pressure on the activation of carbon dioxide and related small molecules by uranium coordination complexes

Recent reports on new types of reactions and bonding using uranium coordination complexes have marked uranium as an effective candidate for small molecule activation and potentially as a key participant in catalytic processes. This review discusses the advantages of employing uranium in coordination chemistry, with emphasis on the importance of ligand design and the promotion of unusual chemical transformations by steric pressure. The activation of industrially relevant C1 feedstocks such as CO and CO2 by uranium complexes with their exemplary abilities to stabilize highly reactive charge-separated complexes are highlighted in this article. Spectroscopic and DFT studies are also presented, demonstrating the important methods that are utilized for investigating the electronic properties of these uranium complexes.