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Genome-wide association meta-analysis identifies 58 independent risk loci for major anxiety disorders among individuals of European ancestry and implicates GABAergic signaling as a potential mechanism underlying genetic risk for these disorders.

Reactive carbanions are typically formed by deprotonating relatively acidic C–H bonds. Here, the authors demonstrate that combining sodium tris(pyrazolyl)borate with mesityllithium in the presence of a donor ligand generates a reactive organometallic mixture that deprotonates benzylic C–H bonds, enabling the isolation of cationic sodium benzyl species.

The parent diphosphene molecule is of fundamental interest, but its reactive nature renders it challenging to isolate, and current metal-stabilized derivatives are limited to complexes of p-/d-metals. Here, the authors introduce f-element diphosphene complexes, adding to f-element diazenes that were first reported over thirty years ago.

Uranium oxo groups are very inert, in contrast with many transition metal oxo compounds that can carry out reactions that are difficult to achieve with other reagents. Now, the controlled lithiation of a ‘Pacman’ complex is shown to activate the uranium oxo group towards functionalization and single electron transfer.

Genomic analyses applied to 14 childhood- and adult-onset psychiatric disorders identifies five underlying genomic factors that explain the majority of the genetic variance of the individual disorders.

The isolation of compounds featuring an actinide–actinide bond is challenging. Now a well-defined Th(III) dimer with a Th–Th two-centre one-electron (2c-1e) σ bond and a 2c-1e π bond is synthesized. Theoretical and magnetic studies show that the open-shell singlet ground state and the two formal Th(III) centres exhibit strong antiferromagnetic coupling.

Degradation of carbon-backbone polymers, which make up most plastics, remains a formidable challenge owing to their strong and inert main-chain C–C bonds. Now it has been shown that aromatization-driven C–C bond cleavage is a viable strategy to endow full degradability into carbon backbones under mild conditions.

The synthesis of a tricoordinate antimony cation is reported by the removal of two chlorides from Tp^Me2SbCl₂, where Tp^Me2 is tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate. The multiple binding sites present in [Tp^Me2Sb]²⁺ bring an amine and an olefinic bond in proximity to enable an intermolecular hydroamination reaction.

Benzene reduction by molecular complexes remains a considerable synthetic challenge, and typically requires harsh reaction conditions involving group I metals. Now it has been shown that a highly polar organometallic samarium alkyl complex enables the reduction of benzene to its tetra-anion without the need for a group I metal.

The synthesis and isolation of uranium(VI) nitride complexes remains challenging. Here, the authors report an example of transition metal (TM) stabilized U(VI) nitride complexes, generated via photolysis of azide-bridged U(IV)-TM precursors.

Nucleophilic alkylation of aromatics with main group reagents was achieved, but it is limited to a stoichiometric regime. Here, the authors report that the ytterbium(II) hydride reacts with ethene and propene to afford ytterbium(II) n-alkyls, both of which can facilitate the catalytic alkylation of benzene at room temperature via an S_N2 mechanism.

Disproportion of uranium(IV) is rare, as it is usually the stable product of uranium(III) or (V) disproportionation. Here, the authors report uranium(IV) disproportionation to uranium(III) and (V) revealing ligand and solvent control over a key thermodynamic property of uranium

Heterometallic clusters have shown promise in catalysis and small-molecule activation, but species comprising uranium–metal bonds have remained difficult to synthesize. Now, facile reactions between uranium and nickel precursors have led to nickel-bridged diuranium clusters supported by a heptadentate N₄P₃ scaffold. Computational analysis points to an unusual electronic configuration for uranium, U(iii)-5f²6d¹.

Despite their importance as mechanistic models for Haber Bosch ammonia synthesis from N₂ and H₂, high oxidation state terminal metal-nitrides are notoriously unreactive towards H₂. Here, the authors report hydrogenolysis of a uranium(V)-nitride, which can occur directly or by Frustrated Lewis Pair chemistry with a borane ancillary.

Despite the burgeoning nature of uranium–ligand multiple bonding, analogous thorium complexes remain incredibly rare. Here the authors report evidence for a transient thorium–nitride species, which, together with data on parent imido derivatives, suggests that the pushing-from-below phenomenon may be more widespread than previously thought.

Rare-earth monometallic phosphinidene complexes have been elusive synthetic targets. Here, the authors describe the synthesis and tunable reactivity of two scandium phosphinophosphinidene complexes containing very unusual Sc-P multiple bonds.

Unlike in the d block, intervalence charge transfer is rare in the 5f block owing to localized valence electrons and poor overlap between metal and ligand orbitals. Delocalization of 5f electrons has now been observed in a Pu(III)/Pu(IV)–pyridinedicarboxylate solid-state compound. It occurs through metal-to-ligand charge transfer with both plutonium centres.

The reactivity of f-block complexes is primarily defined by single-electron oxidations and σ-bond metathesis. Here, Liddle and co-workers provide evidence that a uranium complex can undergo reversible oxidative addition and reductive elimination, demonstrating transition metal-like reactivity within f-block chemistry.

Metallacycles formed from two large, under-coordinated actinide M^IV cations and two rigid arene-bridged aryloxide ligands are capable of binding dinitrogen inside their cavity. These f-block complexes can catalyse the reduction and functionalization of dinitrogen as well as the catalytic conversion of molecular dinitrogen to a secondary silylamine.

Simple uranium complexes, UX₃, are shown to disproportionate in the presence of a reducing agent under mild conditions, cooperatively binding and reducing arenes. This enables arene C–H bond activation and borylation, and the trapping of reactive substituted arenes in inverse sandwich complexes.

The reduction of N₂ to NH₃ is mediated in living systems by the enzyme nitrogenase and in the chemical industry by the Haber–Bosch process; both systems rely on iron-based catalysis. Now, a molecular tri(iron)bis(nitrido) complex, prepared by reduction of a bis(iron)bis(iodo) precursor under an N₂ atmosphere, has been isolated and shown to promote the formation of NH₃ from H₂.

An arene-anchored uranium(III) complex that facilitates the electrocatalytic formation of H₂ from H₂O has now been shown to involve redox-cooperativity between the uranium centre and its covalently bound mesitylene ligand. The oxidative addition of H₂O to the uranium catalyst is a concerted two-electron reaction — atypical for f-block metals.