Actinide-mediated coupling of 4-fluorobenzonitrile: synthesis of an eight-membered thorium(IV) tetraazametallacycle.

An eight-membered thorium(IV) tetraazamacrocycle is produced by the sequential, metal-mediated coupling of four equivalents of 4-fluorobenzonitrile; its formation is consistent with the involvement of an imido intermediate, generated from a thorium ketimide complex.