Synthesis and characterization of thorium and uranium cyanoacetates and their coordination compounds

Tetracyanoacetates of thorium and uranium, M(NCCH₂COO)₄ (where M = Th or U) and dioxouranium (VI) dicyanoacetate UO₂(NCCH₂COO)₂H₂O] and their coordination complexes with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), dimethyl formamide (DMF), 1,10 phenanthroline (Phen) and 2,2′-bipyridyl (Bipy) have been synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis, molecular weight determination, molar conductance measurements, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopic studies (4000–200cm⁻¹). Structural aspects of the compounds and the sites of bonding of the ligands to the central metal atom have been discussed in the light of shifts in thev(C ≡ N),v(COO),v(UO₂) and the metal-ligand stretching vibrations. Thermogravimetric analysis of the compounds have been carried out to study thermal decomposition modes.