Single crystals of the full lanthanide series and americium complexed with 2,2’,2’’-tris(salicylideneimino)trimethylamine in a 1:1 ratio using a slow diffusion method of methanol and DCM were obtained; single crystal XRD, UV/VIS, and fluorescence spectroscopy experiments were performed. The early lanthanides (La-Nd) as well as americium were 8-coordinate systems in the monoclinic crystal class with P21/n space groups. The mid to late lanthanides (Sm-Lu) displayed 7-coordinate geometry in the trigonal crystal class with P-3C1 space groups. The UV/VIS data shows broad charge transfer bands in the near UV region as well as the typical peaks from the respective trivalent metal free ion. This ligand is unique in that the tripodal arms envelop the metal center, causing an unusual 1:1 metal to ligand ratio while maintaining the high order geometry exemplified in the f-elements. Developing unique ligand systems may prove important in selectively separating LnIII from AnIII, which are both typically found in spent nuclear fuel.

Unusual coordination of heptadentate tripodal Schiff base lanthanide/actinide complexes

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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