Pu N, Archer E, He X, Chen J, Rao L, Shafer JC, Yang P, Xu C. Tuning Selectivity to f-Elements through Bonding and Solvation Effects of a Sulfur Donor Ligand.
Inorg Chem 2024;
63:6845-6853. [PMID:
38568878 DOI:
10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c00297]
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Abstract
Bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid, commonly referred to as HBTMPDTP or Cyanex301, is a sulfur-donating ligand that shows considerable promise in the challenging task of separating trivalent actinides (An3+) from lanthanides (Ln3+). Although its effectiveness has been established, the specific molecular details about the preference of HBTMPDTP for americium over europium have remained a mystery, puzzling researchers for over two decades. This study presents a comprehensive, dual-driven separation mechanism for this complex system combining experimental and theoretical approaches. A critical finding is the increased covalency in An-S bonds compared to Ln-S bonds, which plays a significant role in HBTMPDTP's intrinsic selectivity for An3+ over Ln3+. This leads to the formation of distinct An3+ and Ln3+ species, enhancing the ligand's actinide selectivity. Additionally, it provides crucial insights into the coordination chemistry of f-elements with sulfur-donating ligands, thereby deepening our understanding of this intricate field.
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