With over 60 structures available in the literature, uranyl clusters have been created with many different linkages. While simple oxygen linkages are the most prevalent in these clusters, small organic ligands have also been successfully incorporated. Isolating clusters of the higher actinides has not been as successful as with the uranyl system. However, observing the complexation reactions of the ligands used in the uranyl cases with the higher actinides may provide insight into why the transuranic clusters are so hard to make. With that in mind, we have studied the complexation of 237Np (V) and Np(VI) with small organic ligands using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Following our variable-pressure study on the rate of self-exchange of carbonate around [NpO2(CO3)3]4-, 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid (HEDPA) and oxalate were used as ligands of interest, due to their previous incorporation into uranyl clusters. One-dimensional NMR measurements were used to follow the complexation that occurs throughout various pH ranges, while variable-temperature NMR was used to probe the kinetics of the complexation.

Complexation of neptunium with small organic ligands using NMR spectroscopy

255th National Meeting (2018)

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