Actinocene

The most studied actinocene is uranocene, U(C8H8)2, which in 1968 was the first member of this family to be synthesised and is still viewed as the archetypal example. Other actinocenes that have been synthesised are protactinocene (Pa(C8H8)2), thorocene (Th(C8H8)2), neptunocene (Np(C8H8)2), and plutonocene (Pu(C8H8)2). Especially the latter two, neptunocene and plutonocene, have not been extensively studied experimentally since the 1980s because of the radiation hazard they pose. == Bonding ==

The actinide-cyclooctatetraenyl bonding has been of interest for multiple theoretical studies. The covalent component is characterised by donation of electron density to the actinide. This donation is notably reduced in berkelocene relative to other characterized actinocenes, due to the stable 5f7 electron configuration of Bk4+. == Related compounds ==

Analogous sandwiched M(C8H8)2 compounds also exist for lanthanides M = Nd, Tb, and Yb, but therein the bonding is mostly ionic rather than covalent (see lanthanocenes). ==See also==