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Peterson A, Kelly SN, Arino T, Gunther SO, Ouellette ET, Wacker JN, Woods JJ, Teat SJ, Lukens WW, Arnold J, Abergel RJ, Minasian SG. Formation of Fully Stoichiometric, Oxidation-State Pure Neptunium and Plutonium Dioxides from Molecular Precursors. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:18417-18428. [PMID: 39284039 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c02099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Amidate-based ligands (N-(tert-butyl)isobutyramide, ITA) bind κ2 to form homoleptic, 8-coordinate complexes with tetravalent 237Np (Np(ITA)4, 1-Np) and 242Pu (Pu(ITA)4, 1-Pu). These compounds complete an isostructural series from Th, U-Pu and allow for the direct comparison between many of the early actinides with stable tetravalent oxidation states by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). The molecular precursors are subjected to controlled thermolysis under mild conditions with the exclusion of exogenous air and moisture, facilitating the removal of the volatile organic ligands and ligand byproducts. The preformed metal-oxygen bond in the precursor, as well as the metal oxidation state, are maintained through the decomposition, forming fully stoichiometric, oxidation-state pure NpO2 and PuO2. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) elemental mapping supported the evaluation of these high-purity materials. This chemistry is applicable to a wide range of metals, including actinides, with accessible tetravalent oxidation states, and provides a consistent route to analytical standards of importance to the field of nuclear nonproliferation, forensics, and fundamental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Appie Peterson
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Sheridon N Kelly
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Trevor Arino
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - S Olivia Gunther
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Erik T Ouellette
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Jennifer N Wacker
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Joshua J Woods
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Simon J Teat
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Wayne W Lukens
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - John Arnold
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Rebecca J Abergel
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Stefan G Minasian
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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2
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Kelly SN, Russo DR, Ouellette ET, Roy D, Swift AJ, Boreen MA, Smith PW, Moreau LM, Arnold J, Minasian SG. Formation of uranium disulfide from a uranium thioamidate single-source precursor. Chem Sci 2024; 15:13325-13332. [PMID: 39183909 PMCID: PMC11339939 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc03422h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
A single-source-precursor approach was developed to synthesize uranium-based materials outside of the typically-studied oxides. This approach allows for shorter reaction times, milder reaction conditions, and control over the chemicals present in synthesis. To this end, the first homoleptic uranium thioamidate complex was synthesized as a precursor for US2 materials. Pyrolysis of the thioamidate results in decomposition via an alkene elimination pathway and formation of γ-US2, which has historically been hard to access without the need for a secondary sulfur source. Despite the oxophilicity of uranium, the method successfully forms US2 without the inclusion of oxygen in the bulk final product. These findings are supported by simultaneous thermal analysis, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and uranium L3-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy. This work represents the first example of a single-source precursor approach to target and synthesize actinide materials other than the oxides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheridon N Kelly
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Dominic R Russo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Erik T Ouellette
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Debashree Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University Pullman WA 99164 USA
| | - Andrew J Swift
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore CA 94550 USA
| | - Michael A Boreen
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Patrick W Smith
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Liane M Moreau
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University Pullman WA 99164 USA
| | - John Arnold
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Stefan G Minasian
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley CA 94720 USA
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3
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Takao K. How does chemistry contribute to circular economy in nuclear energy systems to make them more sustainable and ecological? Dalton Trans 2023. [PMID: 37128944 DOI: 10.1039/d3dt01019h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
While one should be aware that its zero CO2 emission is actually achievable only when electric power is generated, nuclear power is one of the most viable and proven "carbon-free" energy sources to provide baseload electricity to the current energy-demanding society. Even after the power generation, the major part of spent nuclear fuels still consists of recyclable nuclear fuel materials such as U and Pu, promising circular economy of nuclear energy systems in principle. However, actual situations are not very simple due to the following issues: (1) resource security of nuclear fuel materials, (2) issues of depleted uranium, and (3) treatment and disposal of high-level radioactive wastes. In this Perspective, I discussed how chemistry can contribute to resolving these problems and what task academic research in fundamental chemistry should take on there.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Takao
- Laboratory for Zero-carbon Energy, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 N1-32, O-okayama, Meguro-ku, 152-8550 Tokyo, Japan.
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4
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Straub MD, Ouellette ET, Boreen MA, Britt RD, Chakarawet K, Douair I, Gould CA, Maron L, Del Rosal I, Villarreal D, Minasian SG, Arnold J. A Uranium(II) Arene Complex That Acts as a Uranium(I) Synthon. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:19748-19760. [PMID: 34787416 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c07854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Two-electron reduction of the amidate-supported U(III) mono(arene) complex U(TDA)3 (2) with KC8 yields the anionic bis(arene) complex [K[2.2.2]cryptand][U(TDA)2] (3) (TDA = N-(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)pivalamido). EPR spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and calculations using DFT as well as multireference CASSCF methods all provide strong evidence that the electronic structure of 3 is best represented as a 5f4 U(II) metal center bound to a monoreduced arene ligand. Reactivity studies show 3 reacts as a U(I) synthon by behaving as a two-electron reductant toward I2 to form the dinuclear U(III)-U(III) triiodide species [K[2.2.2]cryptand][(UI(TDA)2)2(μ-I)] (6) and as a three-electron reductant toward cycloheptatriene (CHT) to form the U(IV) complex [K[2.2.2]cryptand][U(η7-C7H7)(TDA)2(THF)] (7). The reaction of 3 with cyclooctatetraene (COT) generates a mixture of the U(III) anion [K[2.2.2]cryptand][U(TDA)4] (1-crypt) and U(COT)2, while the addition of COT to complex 2 instead yields the dinuclear U(IV)-U(IV) inverse sandwich complex [U(TDA)3]2(μ-η8:η3-C8H8) (8). Two-electron reduction of the homoleptic Th(IV) amidate complex Th(TDA)4 (4) with KC8 gives the mono(arene) complex [K[2.2.2]cryptand][Th(TDA)3(THF)] (5). The C-C bond lengths and torsion angles in the bound arene of 5 suggest a direduced arene bound to a Th(IV) metal center; this conclusion is supported by DFT calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Straub
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Erik T Ouellette
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Michael A Boreen
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - R David Britt
- Department of Chemistry, University of California─Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Khetpakorn Chakarawet
- Department of Chemistry, University of California─Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Iskander Douair
- Université de Toulouse et CNRS, INSA, UPS, UMR 5215, LPCNO 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Colin A Gould
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Laurent Maron
- Université de Toulouse et CNRS, INSA, UPS, UMR 5215, LPCNO 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse, France
| | - Iker Del Rosal
- Université de Toulouse et CNRS, INSA, UPS, UMR 5215, LPCNO 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse, France
| | - David Villarreal
- Department of Chemistry, University of California─Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Stefan G Minasian
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - John Arnold
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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5
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Straub MD, Ouellette ET, Boreen MA, Branson JA, Ditter A, Kilcoyne ALD, Lohrey TD, Marcus MA, Paley M, Ramirez J, Shuh DK, Minasian SG, Arnold J. Thorium amidates function as single-source molecular precursors for thorium dioxide. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:4954-4957. [PMID: 33876158 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc00867f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We report the synthesis of four homoleptic thorium(iv) amidate complexes as single-source molecular precursors for thorium dioxide. Each can be sublimed at atmospheric pressure, with the substituents on the amidate ligands significantly impacting their volatility and thermal stability. These complexes decompose via alkene elimination to give ThO2 without need for a secondary oxygen source. ThO2 samples formed from pyrolysis of C-alkyl amidates were found to have higher purity and crystallinity than ThO2 samples formed from C-aryl amidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Straub
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Erik T Ouellette
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Michael A Boreen
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Jacob A Branson
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - Alex Ditter
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | | | - Trevor D Lohrey
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | | | - Maria Paley
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - José Ramirez
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | - David K Shuh
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| | | | - John Arnold
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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6
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Esarte Palomero O, Jones RA. Accessing Pentagonal Bipyramidal Geometry with Pentadentate Pincer Amido-bis(amidate) Ligands in Group IV and V Early Transition Metal Complexes. Organometallics 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.0c00501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Orhi Esarte Palomero
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Richard A. Jones
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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7
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Boreen MA, Gould CA, Booth CH, Hohloch S, Arnold J. Structure and magnetism of a tetrahedral uranium(iii) β-diketiminate complex. Dalton Trans 2020; 49:7938-7944. [PMID: 32495782 DOI: 10.1039/d0dt01599g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We describe the functionalisation of the previously reported uranium(iii) β-diketiminate complex (BDI)UI2(THF)2 (1) with one and two equivalents of a sterically demanding 2,6-diisopropylphenolate ligand (ODipp) leading to the formation of two heteroleptic complexes: [(BDI)UI(ODipp)]2 (2) and (BDI)U(ODipp)2 (3). The latter is a rare example of a tetrahedral uranium(iii) complex, and it shows single-molecule magnet behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Boreen
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
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8
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Boreen MA, Rao G, Villarreal DG, Watt FA, Britt RD, Hohloch S, Arnold J. Lewis acid capping of a uranium(v) nitride via a uranium(iii) azide molecular square. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:4535-4538. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cc01356k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Addition of B(C6F5)3 to a tetrameric uranium(iii) azide-bridged molecular square induced N2 loss and formation of a uranium(v) borane-capped nitride.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Boreen
- Department of Chemistry
- University of California
- Berkeley
- USA
- Chemical Sciences Division
| | - Guodong Rao
- Department of Chemistry
- University of California
- Davis
- USA
| | | | | | | | - Stephan Hohloch
- Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck
- Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy
- Institute of General
- Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry
- 6020 Innsbruck
| | - John Arnold
- Department of Chemistry
- University of California
- Berkeley
- USA
- Chemical Sciences Division
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9
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Straub MD, Leduc J, Frank M, Raauf A, Lohrey TD, Minasian SG, Mathur S, Arnold J. Chemical Vapor Deposition of Phase‐Pure Uranium Dioxide Thin Films from Uranium(IV) Amidate Precursors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201901924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Straub
- Department of Chemistry University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Heavy Element Chemistry Group Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Jennifer Leduc
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry University of Cologne 50939 Cologne Germany
| | - Michael Frank
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry University of Cologne 50939 Cologne Germany
| | - Aida Raauf
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry University of Cologne 50939 Cologne Germany
| | - Trevor D. Lohrey
- Department of Chemistry University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Heavy Element Chemistry Group Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Stefan G. Minasian
- Heavy Element Chemistry Group Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Sanjay Mathur
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry University of Cologne 50939 Cologne Germany
| | - John Arnold
- Department of Chemistry University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA 94720 USA
- Heavy Element Chemistry Group Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Berkeley CA 94720 USA
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10
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Chemical Vapor Deposition of Phase‐Pure Uranium Dioxide Thin Films from Uranium(IV) Amidate Precursors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:5749-5753. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201901924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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