A thermally robust di-n-butyl thorium complex with an unstable dimethyl analogue

Methyl and n-butyl thorium complexes of a rigid 2,6-bis(anilidomethyl)pyridine ligand have been prepared; the n-butyl complex is thermally stable, even at 60 degrees C, while the methyl complexes exhibit a high tendency to eliminate methane via sigma-bond metathesis.