The separation of middle to late actinides (U-Cm) from the lanthanide fission products in spent nuclear fuel would greatly facilitate some advanced nuclear fuel cycle options to reduce the volume of waste and minimize the radiotoxic lifetime of waste sent for geological disposal. The most promising ligands suggested for effecting the most difficult An(III)/Ln(III) separations are those containing soft donors (e.g., N, S), an observation that has been rationalized with the hypothesis of increased covalency within An-L bonds versus Ln-L bonds.Our recent research uncovered some interesting covalency differences in 5f-element complexes with a ligand platform that contained both relatively 'hard' (O) and 'soft' (N) donor atoms. In order to better understand the bonding modes within mixed An-O/N fragments across a wider ligand set, we have been investigating the chelating trianionic tris(amidate) scaffold and its coordination to the actinides, with a focus upon the transuranic elements. Several lanthanide (La, Ce and Nd) analogues were also prepared for comparative purposes. Spectroscopic and structural characterization will be discussed along with concomitant advances in non-aqueous transuranic starting materials.

Coordination chemistry of lanthanide and actinide complexes with mixed O- and N-donor ligand scaffolds

247th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.