Interactions of Bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinate with Trivalent Lanthanides in a Homogeneous Medium: Thermodynamics and Coordination Modes

Complexation of a Nitrilotriacetate-Derived Triamide Ligand with Trivalent Lanthanides: A Thermodynamic and Crystallographic Study

Non-heterocyclic N-donor nitrilotriacetate-derived triamide ligands are one of the most promising extractants for the selective extraction separation of trivalent actinides over lanthanides, but the thermodynamics and mechanism of the complexation of this kind of ligand with actinides and lanthanides are still not clear. In this work, the complexation behaviors of N,N,N',N',N″,N″-hexaethylnitrilotriacetamide (NTAamide(Et)) with four representative trivalent lanthanides (La³⁺, Nd³⁺, Eu³⁺, and Lu³⁺) were systematically investigated by using ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and fluorescence spectrophotometry, microcalorimetry, and single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. ¹H NMR spectroscopic titration of La³⁺ and Lu³⁺ indicates that two species of 1:2 and 1:1 metal-ligand complexes were formed in NO₃^- and ClO₄^- media. The stability constants of NTAamide(Et) with Nd³⁺ and Eu³⁺ obtained by UV-vis and fluorescence titration show that the complexing strength of NTAamide(Et) with Nd³⁺ is lower than that with Eu³⁺ in the same anionic medium, while that of the same lanthanide complex is higher in ClO₄^- medium than in NO₃^- medium. Meanwhile, the formation reactions for all metal-ligand complexes are driven by both enthalpy and entropy. The structures of lanthanide complexes in the single ClO₄^- and NO₃^- medium and the mixed one were determined to be [LnL₂(MeOH)](ClO₄)₃ (Ln = La, Nd, Eu, and Lu), [LaL₂(EtOH)₂][La(NO₃)₆], and [LaL₂(NO₃)](ClO₄)₂, separately. The average bond lengths of lanthanide complexes decrease gradually with the decrease in ionic radii of Ln³⁺, indicating that heavier lanthanides form stronger complexes due to the lanthanide contraction effect, which coincides with the trend of the complexing strength obtained by spectroscopic titration. This work not only reveals the thermodynamics and mechanism of the complexation between NTAamide ligands and lanthanides but also obtains the periodic tendency of complexation between them, which may facilitate the separation of trivalent lanthanides from actinides.

Synthesis and Characterization of Lanthanide Metal Ion Complexes of New Polydentate Hydrazone Schiff Base Ligand

The new homodinuclear complexes of the general formula [Ln₂L₃(NO₃)₃] (where HL is newly synthesized 2-((2-(benzoxazol-2-yl)-2-methylhydrazono)methyl)phenol and Ln = Sm³⁺ (1), Eu³⁺ (2), Tb³⁺ (3a, 3b), Dy³⁺ (4), Ho³⁺ (5), Er³⁺ (6), Tm³⁺ (7), Yb³⁺ (8)), have been synthesized from the lanthanide(III) nitrates with the polydentate hydrazone Schiff base ligand. The flexibility of this unsymmetrical Schiff base ligand containing N₂O binding moiety, attractive for lanthanide metal ions, allowed for a self-assembly of these complexes. The compounds were characterized by spectroscopic data (ESI-MS, IR, UV/Vis, luminescence) and by the X-ray structure determination of the single crystals, all of which appeared to be different solvents. The analytical data suggested 2:3 metal:ligand stoichiometry in these complexes, and this was further confirmed by the structural results. The metal cations are nine-coordinated, by nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms. The complexes are two-centered, with three oxygen atoms in bridging positions. There are two types of structures, differing by the sources of terminal (non-bridging) coordination centers (group A: two ligands, one nitro anion/one ligand, two nitro anions, group B: three ligands, three anions).

Identification of complexes of Nd(III) with dithiophosphinic acids verifying the difference in complexation between Ln(III) and An(III)

Five complex species of Nd(III) with HA have been spectroscopically and compositionally identified as NdA₃, NdA₃(HA), NdA₃(HA)H₂O, NdA₃(H₂O)₃, and Nd(H₂O)₂₃·3A (HA, bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid) with the help of X-ray diffraction analysis on single crystals of Nd(H₂O)₉·H₂O·3B (HB = bis(iso-butyl)dithiophosphinic acid.

Extraction of the trivalent transplutonium actinides americium through einsteinium by the sulfur donor Cyanex 301

When extracting metals with the sulfur donor ligand, Cyanex 301 (bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid), a transition in the coordination mode of extracted complexes has been observed between Eu and Gd, but not within the actinide series.

Coordination of Nd(iii) and Eu(iii) with monodentate organophosphorus ligands in ionic liquids: spectroscopy and thermodynamics

The thermodynamics and coordination nature of the complexes of Ln(iii) with three monodentate organophosphorus ligands in ionic liquids have been elucidated and illustrated by spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques.

Quantum Chemistry Study on the Extraction of Trivalent Lanthanide Series by Cyanex301: Insights from Formation of Inner- and Outer-Sphere Complexes

The extraction of lanthanide series by Cyanex301, i.e., bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid (HC301), has been modeled by density functional theory calculation, taking into account the formation of both inner- and outer-sphere complexes. The inner-sphere complex Ln(C301)₃ and the outer-sphere complex Ln(H₂O)₉(C301)₃ are optimized, followed by the analysis of interaction energy, bond length, Laplacian bond orders, and Mulliken populations. The covalency degree increases in Ln-S and Ln-O bonds in the inner- and outer-sphere complexes, respectively, as the lanthanide series is traversed. Mulliken population analysis indicates the important role of the 5d-orbital participation in bonding in the formation of inner- and outer-sphere complexes. Two thermodynamic cycles regarding the formation of inner- and outer-sphere complexes are established to calculate the extraction Gibbs free energies (ΔG _extr), and relaxed potential energy surface scan is utilized to model the kinetic complexation of C301 anion with hydrated metal ions. Light lanthanides can form both inner- and outer-sphere complexes, whereas heavy lanthanides only form outer-sphere complexes in biphasic extraction. After adopting the data of forming inner-sphere complex for light Ln(III) and that of forming outer-sphere complexes for heavy Ln(III), the trend of the calculated -ΔG _extr agrees very well with that of the experimental distribution ratios on crossing the Ln(III) series. Results from this work help to theoretically understand the extraction behavior of Cyanex301 with respect to different Ln(III).