Articles Capture Cover of Inorganic Chemistry

Two articles co-authored by Los Alamos Researchers are captured on the cover of the January 2008 edition of Inorganic Chemistry. The first article is titled "Structural Characterization of Pu[N(SiMe3)2]3, a Synthetically Useful Nonaqueous Plutonium(III) Precursor"
and describes the syntheses and crystal structure of a versatile Pu(III) starting material. The second article utilizes this precursor to synthesize novel Pu complexes as part of a comparative study of covalency differences between the bonding of An(III) and Ln(III) ions with "soft" donor ligands (C, N, S, Se and Te atoms) through the isolation and characterization of M[N(EPR2)2]3
complexes (M = U, Pu, La, Ce; E = S, Se, Te; R = Ph, iPr, H).

The researchers found shorter An-Ligand than Ln-Ligand bond lengths and discovered differences of similar magnitude between U(III)/La(III) and Pu(III)/Ce(III) complexes. The research suggests that covalent bonding may well be the important underlying principle for vital Eu/Am/Cm separations in advanced nuclear fuel cycles.

References: A. J. Gaunt, A. E. Enriquez, S. D. Reilly, B. L. Scott, and M. P. Neu, Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, p 26 and also A. J. Gaunt, S. D. Reilly, A. E. Enriquez, B. L. Scott, J. A. Ibers, P. Sekar, K. I. M. Ingram, N. Kaltsoyannis, and M. P. Neu, Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, p 29.

To read the article, go to the Inorganic Chemistry web page.

The cover artwork shows a conceptual image depicting how fundamental actinide chemistry is instrumental in nuclear fuel cycles. Image by Anthony Mancino.

January, 2008

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