“…As expected, our DFT calculations for [UO 2 Cl 4 ] 2– show strong mixing in a D 4 h ligand field with the axial oxo ligands. Consistent with previous reports, the U–O interaction is characterized by six antibonding orbitals of 2 e u (5f π ), 1 a 2 u (5f σ ), 1 a 1 g (6d σ ), and 1 e g (6d π ) symmetry, Figure . − ,− In comparison to the highly covalent U–O bonds, the equatorial Cl ligands are calculated to form U–Cl interactions that have far less Cl 3p-character. The Cl 3p σ-type symmetry-adapted linear combinations (SALCs) of atomic orbitals span e u + a 1 g + b 1 g symmetries and can mix with U 5f and 6d orbitals to form U–Cl σ-bonding interactions of 2 e u (U–Cl 5f σ , U–O 5f π ), 1 a 1 g (U–Cl 6d σ , U–O 6d σ ), and 1 b 1 g (U–Cl 6d σ , U–O 6d δ ) symmetries (Figure and Table ).…”