Design of Extractants for F-Block Elements in a Series of (2-(Diphenylphosphoryl)methoxyphenyl)diphenylphosphine Oxide Derivatives: Synthesis, Quantum-Chemical, and Extraction Studies

With the aim to find new efficient extractants for recovery of f-block elements from processing wastes of different origin, we have compared a series of phosphoryl-containing podands, including (2-(diphenylphosphorylmethoxy)phenyl)diphenylphosphine oxide 1 and its analogues 5–7, where the ArP(O)Ph₂ group of phosphine oxide type is replaced by phosphonic fragments. Quantum-chemical modelling of the structures of phosphoryl-containing podands 1 and 5–7 has been performed, which was later confirmed by the data of X-ray diffraction. The features of extraction of nitric acid, as well as U(VI), Th(IV), Nd(III), and Ho(III) with compounds 1 and 5–7 from nitric acid media into 1,2-dichloroethane have been studied. The compositions of extracted complexes have been determined.