The Effect of Guest Metal Ions on the Reduction Potentials of Uranium(VI) Complexes: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations

Two mononuclear uranyl complexes, [UO₂L¹] ( 1 ) and [UO₂L²] ⋅ 0.5 CH₃CN ⋅ 0.25 CH₃OH ( 2 ), have been synthesized from two multidentate N₃O₄ donor ligands, N,N′-bis(5-methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine (H₂L¹) and N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine (H₂L²), respectively, and have been structurally characterized. Both complexes 1 and 2 showed a reversible U^VI/U^V couple at −1.571 and −1.519 V, respectively, in cyclic voltammetry. The reduction potential of the U^VI/U^V couple shifted towards more positive potential on addition of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Ag⁺ metal ions to acetonitrile solutions of complex 2 , and the resulting potential was correlated with the Lewis acidity of the metal ions and was also justified by theoretical DFT calculations. No such shift in reduction potential was observed for complex 1 . All four bimetallic products, [UO₂L²Li_0.5](ClO₄)_0.5 ( 3 ), [UO₂L²Na(ClO₄)]₂ ( 4 ), [UO₂L²Ag(NO₃)(H₂O)] ( 5 ), and [(UO₂L²)₂K(H₂O)₂]PF₆ ( 6 ), formed on addition of the Li⁺, Na⁺, Ag⁺, and K⁺ metal ions, respectively, to acetonitrile solutions of complex 2 , were isolated in the solid state and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In all the species, the inner N₃O₂ donor set of the ligand encompasses the equatorial plane of the uranyl ion and the outer open compartment with O₂O′₂ donor sites hosts the second metal ion.     

Equilibrium constants of some protonated,nonprotonated and hydroxo complexes of uranium(VI) with xylenol orange

Summary The species, UO₂H₃L^–, UO₂H₂L^2–, UO₂HL^3–, UO₂L^4–, UO₂(OH)L^5– and UO₂(OH)₂L^6– are found in the equilibria between uranyl ions and 3,3-bis[N,N-di(carboxymethyl)-aminomethyl]-o-cresolsulphonphthalein (H₆L; xylenol orange; dcac) in aqueous solution. The equilibria have been studied by the potentiometric method at 25° and at an ionic strength of 0.1M (KNO₃). New algebraic equations have been employed to evaluate the equilibrium constants.     

Dioxouranium Complexes with Acetylpyridine Benzoylhydrazones and Related Ligands

Acetylpyridine benzoylhydrazone and related ligands react with common dioxouranium(VI) compounds such as uranyl nitrate or [NBu₄]₂[UO₂Cl₄] to form air‐stable complexes. Reactions with 2, 6‐diacetylpyridinebis(benzoylhydrazone) (H₂L^1a) or 2, 6‐diacetylpyridinebis(salicylhydrazone) (H₂L^1b) give yellow products of the composition [UO₂(L¹)]. The neutral compounds contain doubly deprotonated ligands and possess a distorted pentagonal‐bipyramidal structure. The hydroxo groups of the salicylhydrazonato ligand do not contribute to the complexation of the metal. The equatorial coordination spheres of the complexes can be extended by the addition of a monodentate ligand such as pyridine or DMSO. The uranium atoms in the resulting deep‐red complexes have hexagonal‐bipyramidal coordination environments with the oxo ligands in axial positions. The sterical strains inside the hexagonal plane can be reduced when two tridentate benzoylhydrazonato ligands are used instead of the pentadentate 2, 6‐diacetylpyridine derivatives. Acetylpyridine benzoylhydrazone (HL²) and bis(2‐pyridyl)ketone benzoylhydrazone (HL³) deprotonate and form neutral, red [UO₂(L)₂] complexes. The equatorial coordination spheres of these complexes are puckered hexagons. X‐ray diffraction studies on [UO₂(L^1a)(pyridine)], [UO₂(L^1b)(DMSO)], [UO₂(L²)₂] and [UO₂(L³)₂] show relatively short U—O bonds to the benzoylic oxygen atoms between 2.328(6) and 2.389(8) Å. This suggests a preference of these donor sites of the ligands over their imino and amine functionalities (U—N bond lengths: 2.588(7)—2.701(6) Å ).     

Saccharified Uranyl Ions: Self-Assembly of UO22+ into Trinuclear Anionic Complexes by the Coordination of Glucosamine-Derived Schiff Bases

The reaction of UO₂(OAc)₂ ⋅ 2H₂O with the biologically inspired ligand 2-salicylidene glucosamine (H₂ L¹ ) results in the formation of the anionic trinuclear uranyl complex [(UO₂)₃(μ₃-O)( L¹ )₃]²⁻ ( 1 ²⁻), which was isolated in good yield as its Cs-salt, [Cs]₂ 1 . Recrystallization of [Cs]₂ 1 in the presence of 18-crown-6 led to formation of a neutral ion pair of type [M(18-crown-6)]₂ 1 , which was also obtained for the alkali metal ions Rb⁺ and K⁺ (M=Cs, Rb, K). The related ligand, 2-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthylidene) glucosamine (H₂ L² ) in a similar procedure with Cs⁺ gave the corresponding complex [Cs(18-crown-6)]₂[(UO₂)₃(μ₃-O)( L² )₃ ([Cs(18-crown-6)]₂ 2 ). From X-ray investigations, the [(UO₂)₃O( Lⁿ )₃]²⁻ anion (n=1, 2) in each complex is a discrete trinuclear uranyl species that coordinates to the alkali metal ion via three uranyl oxygen atoms. The coordination behavior of H₂ L¹ and H₂ L² towards UO₂²⁺ was investigated by NMR, UV/Vis spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, revealing the in situ formation of the 1 ²⁻ and 2 ²⁻dianions in solution.     

Synthesis, characterisation and chemical reactivity of some new dioxouranium(VI) complexes of 2-aminobenzoylhydrazone of butane-2,3-dione

A new series of dioxouranium(VI) complexes of a potential ONNO tetradentate donor 2-aminobenzoylhydrazone of butane-2,3-dione (L₁H₂) have been synthesized. At pH 2·5–4·0, the donor (L₁H₂) reacts in the keto form and complexes of the type [UO₂(L₁H₂)(X)₂] (X⁻=Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO ₃ ⁻ , NCS⁻, ClO ₄ ⁻ , CH₃COO⁻, 1/2SO ₄ ²⁻ ) are obtained. At higher pH (6·5–7), the complex of the enol form having the formula [UO₂(L₁)(H₂O)] has been isolated. On reaction with a monodentate lewis base (B), both types of complexes yield adducts of the type [UO₂(L₁)(B)]. All these complexes have been characterised adequately by elemental analyses and other standard physicochemical techniques. Location of the bonding sites of the donor molecule around the uranyl ion, status of the uranium-oxygen bond and the probable structure of the complexes have also been discussed.     

Thermodynamic and Structural Trends in Hexavalent Actinyl Cations: Complexation of Dipicolinic Acid with NpO22+ and PuO22+ in Comparison with UO22+

The complexation of NpO₂²⁺ and PuO₂²⁺ with dipicolinic acid (DPA) has been investigated in 0.1 M NaClO₄ by spectrophotometry, microcalorimetry, and single crystal diffractometry. Formation of 1:1 and 1:2 (metal/ligand molar ratio) complexes of DPA with NpO₂²⁺ and PuO₂²⁺ were identified and the thermodynamic parameters were determined and compared with those of UO₂²⁺. All three hexavalent actinyl cations form strong 1:1 DPA complexes with slightly decreasing but comparable stability constants from UO₂²⁺ to PuO₂²⁺, whereas the stability constants of the 1:2 complexes (log β₂) decrease substantially along the series (16.3 for UO₂L₂^2?, 15.17 for NpO₂L₂^2?, and 14.17 for PuO₂L₂^2? at 25 °C). The enthalpies of complexation for the 1:2 complexes become less exothermic from UO₂L₂^2? (?28.9 kJ mol^?1), through NpO₂L₂^2? (?27.2 kJ mol^?1), and to PuO₂L₂^2? (?22.7 kJ mol^?1). The trends in the thermodynamic parameters are discussed in terms of the effective charge of the cations and the steric constraints in the structures of the complexes. In addition, the features of the absorption spectra, including the wavelength and intensity of the absorption bands, are related to the perturbation of the ligand field and the symmetry of the actinyl complexes.     

Complexation between uranyl(VI) and CMPO in a hydroxyl-functionalized ionic liquid: An extraction,spectrophotography, and calorimetry study

The extraction complexes of uranyl(VI) in HNO₃ to a hydroxyl-functionalized ionic liquid (IL) phase, HOEtmimNTf₂ bearing CMPO, were investigated. Three possibly successive extraction complexes, UO₂L²⁺ (L = CMPO), UO₂L₂²⁺ and UO₂L₃²⁺, were detected based on variable U/L ratios. Uranyl(VI) prefers to be extracted as complex UO₂L₃²⁺, combining with the ions from HOEtmimNTf₂ to construct a solid material through self-assembly. The thermodynamics of complexes, UO₂L_j²⁺ (j = 1-3), were studied by spectrophotometry and microcalorimetry. All the formation reactions are principally driven by entropy, although a small part of the driving force of complexes UO₂L₂²⁺ and UO₂L₃²⁺ comes from enthalpy. Based on the thermodynamic properties for complex UO₂L₃²⁺, we provide a possible coordination mode in HOEtmimNTf₂: the first CMPO molecule coordinates with UO₂²⁺ in a bidentate fashion while the others do in a monodentate fashion. The results offer a thermodynamic insight into the formation behaviors of the uranyl(VI)/CMPO complexes involving the special IL HOEtmimNTf₂, which is of significance to advance the novel IL extraction strategy.     

Dioxouranium(VI) mixed ligand complexes containingo-substituted benzoic acid and α-amino acids

Summary Mixed ligand complexes of general formula [UO₂L¹L²-(H₂O)_n], where L¹ iso-hydroxy-,o-mercapto- oro-aminobenzoic acid and L² is glycine, L-alanine, or L-valine, have been prepared and characterized. The uranium atom in these complexes is 6- or 8-coordinate. Both acid ligands are bidentate, bonding through the ionized –COO^–– group and either O, N or S atoms.     

Selective and Sensitive Determination of Uranyl Ions in Complex Matrices by Ion Imprinted Polymers‐Based Electrochemical Sensor

We report on the design of a UO₂²⁺‐selective electrode based on the use of UO₂²⁺ imprinted polymer nanoparticles (IP‐NPs), and its application for the differential pulse adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry determination of uranyl ions. A carbon paste electrode was modified with the IP‐NPs, and differential pulse adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry was applied as the detection technique after open‐circuit sorption of UO₂²⁺ ions. The modified electrode responses to UO₂²⁺ was linear in the 0.1 µg L^?1 to 10 µg L^?1 and in the 0.01 mg L^?1 to 10 mg L^?1. The method detection limit of the sensor was 0.03 µg L^?1.     

Complexation of U(VI), Ce(III) and Nd(III) with acetohydroxamic acid in perchlorate aqueous solution

Complexes of UO₂ ²⁺, Ce³⁺ and Nd³⁺ (M) with acetohydroxamic acid (AHA or L) in an aqueous solution have been investigated by the pH-spectral titration method at 25 °C in an aqueous medium of 1.0 M NaClO₄ ionic strength. Cerium(III) and neodymium(III) form [ML]²⁺, [ML₂]⁺, [ML₃] complexes with acetohydroxamic acid, while in case of UO₂ ²⁺ form [UO₂L]⁺, [UO₂L₂] complexes with acetohydroxamic acid. Data processing with SQUAD program calculates the best values for the stability constants from pH-spectrophotometric titration data. The protonation constant obtained was pK₁ = 9.15 ± 0.04 at 25 °C. The stability constants for acetohydroxamic acid with UO₂ ²⁺, Ce³⁺ and Nd³⁺ were β₁ = 7.22 ± 0.011, β₂ = 14.89 ± 0.018 for UO₂ ²⁺ and β₁ = 5.05 ± 0.062, β₂ = 10.60 ± 0.076, β₃ = 16.23 ± 0.088 for Ce³⁺ and β₁ = 5.90 ± 0.028, β₂ = 12.22 ± 0.038, β₃ = 18.58 ± 0.042 for Nd³⁺, respectively.     

Complexation of U(VI) with diphenyldithiophosphinic acid: spectroscopy,structure and DFT calculations

The complexation of U(VI) with diphenyldithiophosphinic acid (denoted as HL) in acetonitrile was studied by UV–Vis, FT-IR, crystallography and DFT calculations. UV–Vis absorption spectrophotometry implies that three successive complexes, UO₂L⁺, UO₂L₂, UO₂L₃^?, form in the solution. Significant ligand to metal charge transfer occurs from soft atom S to U(VI) in all the three complexes. A crystal of UO₂L₂ complex was successfully synthesized from the solution. In the crystal both the two ligands coordinate to U(VI) in bidentate form. DFT calculations confirm the formation of UO₂L₃^? complex and help illustrate the structures of all the U(VI) species in the solution.     

Scavenging of UO2 2+ using 4-sulfonic calix[6]arene in the presence of goethite

The scavenging of UO₂ ²⁺ using 4-sulfonic calix[6]arene in the presence of a strong adsorbent was studied as a function of pH. The adsorbent selected was goethite because of its strong affinity for UO₂ ²⁺ and its abundance in natural soils. In order to understand the underlying chemistry of the scavenging process, the adsorption of UO₂ ²⁺ and 4-sulfonic calix[6]arene onto goethite, respectively, and the extraction of adsorbed UO₂ ²⁺ from goethite surface were modeled using the triple-layer model. The model well explained the pH dependence of the adsorption and extraction processes. This work showed that maximum extraction was obtained around pH 10.5 in the presence of 12g/l goethite in the case of a 1:3T _U(VI):T _calixareneratio.     

Study on the energy transfer between UO_2~(2 ) and Eu~(3 ) in sol-gel derived titania matrix by luminescence spectroscopy

The TiO2 gel doped with UO22 and Eu3 has been prepared by a sol-gel method. The quenching of the UO22 emission by Eu3 and the energy transfer from the excited state of UO22 to the ground state of Eu3 have been investigated. The energy transfer has been studied by the measurement of luminescence lifetime τ, calculations of energy transfer efficiency ηET and energy transfer rate WET. The experimental results indicated that the quenching is combined static and dynamic mechanism, but the static mechanism is dominant.     

A Dinuclear Uranium Complex [{UO2F2(NH3)}2(μ-F)2]2− from Reaction of TlF and UO2F2 in Liquid Anhydrous Ammonia and Fluoride Ion Affinities for Some Uranyl(VI) Species [UO2Fx]2−x and [UO2Fx(NH3)5−x]2−x

UO₂F₂ abstracts F⁻ anions from TlF in liquid ammonia solution and the compound [Tl₂(NH₃)₆][{UO₂F₂(NH₃)}₂(μ-F)₂] is formed. The compound has been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations for the solid state. Quantum-chemical investigation of the [{UO₂F₂(NH₃)}₂(μ-F)₂]²⁻ anion showed that the U−(μ-F)−U σ-3c-4e-bond is essentially ionic. The [Tl₂(NH₃)₆]²⁺ cation shows a thallophilic Tl⋅⋅⋅Tl interaction. Fluoride ion affinities (FIAs) were calculated for different UO₂²⁺ species [UO₂F_x]^2−x and [UO₂F_x(NH₃)_5−x]^2−x with x=0 to 4.     

The Template Synthesis of the New Macrocyclic and Acyclic Metal Ion Complexes Derived from Putrescine

The template reaction of 2,6-diacetylpyridine with biogenic diamine–putrescine in the presence of cadmium(II), mercury(II) or lead(II) ions produces the complexes of 22-membered macrocyclic ligand L¹ with an N₆ set of donor atoms as a result of [2 + 2] Schiff base cyclocondensation. The lead(II) complex containing Schiff base acyclic ligand L² terminated by one carbonyl and one amine group as product of the partial [2 + 2] condensation has been also isolated and might be regarded as possible intermediate in the formation of the macrocyclic L¹ complex. Analogous reaction involving the uranyl nitrate generates the complex containing the same Schiff base acyclic ligand L² as a final product of template reaction. The complexes were characterized by spectral data (IR, ¹H NMR, FAB-MS), thermogravimetric and elemental analyses. A notable feature of the FAB mass spectrum of the uranyl complex is the appearance of the clusters of the form [(UO₂) _n O]⁺(n= 1–7) along with the peak corresponding to molecular ion.     

Structure of uranyl complexes with acetylenedicarboxylic acid, K(H5O2)[UO2(OOCC≡CCOO)2 · H2O] · 2H2O and Cs2[UO2(OOCC≡CCOO)2 · H2O] · 2H2O

Uranyl complexes with acetylenedicarboxylic acid, K(H₅O₂)[UO₂L₂H₂O] · 2H₂O (I) and Cs₂[UO₂L₂H₂O] · 2H₂O (II), L²⁻ = C₄O ₄ ²⁻ were prepared for the first time. The composition and structure of the complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal data are as follows: a = 16.254(12) ?, b = 13.508(8) ?, c = 7.683(6) ?, β = 90.91(7)°, space group C2/c, V = 1687(2) ?³ (I); a = 7.0745(10), b = 18.4246(10), c = 13.1383(10) ?, space group Abm2, V = 1712.5(3) ?³ (II). The structures of I and II are based on [UO₂L₂H₂O] _n ²⁻ anionic chains stretched along the [101] direction (I) or [010] direction (II). In I and II, the uranium coordination polyhedron is a pentagonal bipyramid in which the equatorial environment of the uranyl ions is formed by the oxygen atoms of the four L²⁻ anions and the water molecule. The L²⁻ anions in I and II are bidentate bridging ligands connecting two uranium atoms that are next to each other in the anionic chain; their coordination capacity is equal to 2. In I, the K⁺ and H₅O ₂ ⁺ cations are outer-sphere species. The latter form hydrogen bonds combining the anionic chains shifted by translation b with respect to each other. The [UO₂L₂H₂O] _n ²⁻ chains in I are surrounded by the potassium and oxonium cations; in II, these are combined by hydrogen bonds into anionic layers between which Cs⁺ cations are arranged. The IR spectrum of compound II was measured and interpreted. Original Russian Text ? I.A. Charushnikova, A.M. Fedoseev, N.A. Budantseva, I.N. Polyakova, Ph. Moisy, 2007, published in Koordinatsionnaya Khimiya, 2007, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 63–69.     

Vibrational spectroscopic studies of uranyl complexes in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions

Vibrational spectra have been obtained for aqueous solution of uranyl-perchlorates, -fluorides, -chlorides, -acetates and -sulphates over a range of solution composition with added anions. We have prepared [Buⁿ₄N][UO₂Cl₄], [Me₄N][UO₂Cl₄], [Prⁿ₄N][[UO₂(NO₃)₃], [Buⁿ₄N][UO₂(NO₃)₃], with the expectation that the large cation would give a better approximation to vibrational frequencies of the free anion and would allow measurements in non-coordinating solvents. As the perchlorate is not coordinated to [UO₂]²⁺ in aqueous solution the expected structure is a solvated cation [UO₂(OH₂)₅]²⁺ with characteristic infrared 962.5, 253 and 160 cm⁻¹ and Raman 874 and 198 cm⁻¹ bands. The formation of weak, solvated [UO₂X]⁺ complexes (X=F, Cl) has been established with frequencies at 908, 827, 254, 380 cm⁻¹ and 956, 871, 254 and 222 cm⁻¹ for [UO₂F]⁺ and [UO₂Cl]⁺, respectively. Bidentate NO₃ coordination has been established for solid and dissolved (in CH₂Cl₂) [R₄N][UO₂(NO₃)₃] (R=Prⁿ, Buⁿ). Aqueous solutions of UO₂(NO₃)₂ and Cs[UO₂(NO₃)₃] show no clear evidence that bidentate or monodentate nitrate is present. Both unidentate and bidentate linkage of acetate-uranyl were established for acetate complexes in aqueous solutions. For the uranyl sulphate system, monodentate sulphate coordination is the major mode at low SO₄:U ratios, and even at a ratio of 3:1 there is very little free sulphate.     

Stability constants of thorium(IV) complexes with aryl-bis-(5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-pyrazolyl) methane ligands

Summary Stability constants of complexes of aryl-bis-(5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-pyrazolyl) methane [ArBPyM] derivatives with thorium(IV) ions were determined by the potentiometric method at 30°C and an ionic strength of 0.1 mol·dm^–3 (KNO₃) in 75% (v/v) dioxane-water. The evaluation of the titration data indicated that four kinds of complexes ([ThL]²⁺, [ThLOH]⁺, [ThL ₂], and [ThL(OH)₂]^2–) were formed. The formation constants for all [ThL]²⁺ and [ThL ₂] complexes have been calculated to compare these values with those previously reported [1, 2] with Ln³⁺ and UO ₂ ²⁺ metal ions [2, 3]. The probable ligand-bonding sites of the complexes are proposed. In addition, the applicability of theHammett equation for the correlation of the stability constants of [Th(IV)-ArBPyM] complexes are discussed.

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Stabilitätskonstanten von Thorium(IV)-Komplexen mit Aryl-bis-(5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-pyrazolyl)-methan-Liganden

Zusammenfassung Stabilitätskonstanten von Komplexen von Aryl-bis-(5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-pyrazolyl)-methan — Derivaten [ArBPyM] mit Thorium(IV) — Ionen wurden bei 30°C und einer Ionenstärke von 0.1 mol-dm^–3 (KNO₃) in 75% (v/v) Dioxan-Wasser potentiometrisch bestimmt. Die Auswertung der Titrationskurven zeigte, daß vier verschiedene Komplexe vorlagen ([ThL]²⁺, [ThLOH]⁺, [ThL ₂] und [ThL(OH)₂]²⁺). Die Bildungskonstanten aller [ThL]²⁺- und [ThL ₂]-Komplexe wurden berechnet, um sie mit den früher für Ln³⁺- und UO ₂ ²⁺ -Ionen publizierten zu vergleichen. Potentielle Bindungsstellen der Komplexe für Liganden werden vorgeschlagen. Zusätzlich wird die Anwendbarkeit derHammet-Beziehung auf die Korrelation der Stabilitätskonstanten von [Th(IV)-ArBPyM] — Komplexen diskutiert.

     

Modulation of the unpaired spin localization in Pentavalent Uranyl Complexes

The electronic structure of various complexes of pentavalent uranyl species, namely UO₂⁺, is described, using DFT methods, with the aim of understanding how the structure of the ligands may influence the localisation of the unpaired 5f electron of uranium (V) and, finally, the stability of such complexes towards oxidation. Six complexes have been inspected: [UO₂py₅]⁺ (1), [(UO₂py₅)KI₂] (2), [UO₂(salan-^tBu₂)(py)K] (3), [UO₂(salophen-^tBu₂)(thf)K] (4), [UO₂(salen-^tBu₂)(py)K] (5), [and UO₂-cyclo[6]pyrrole]^1? (6), chosen to explore various ligands. In the five first complexes, the UO₂⁺ species is well identified with the unpaired electron localized on the 5f uranium orbital. Additionally, for the salan, salen and salophen ligands, some covalent interactions have been observed, resulting from the presence of both donor and acceptor binding sites. In contrast, the last complex is best described by a UO₂²⁺ uranyl (VI) coordinated by the anionic radical cyclopyrrole, the highly delocalized π orbitals set stabilizing the radical behaviour of this ligand.     

Coordination environment of [UO2Br4] in ionic liquids and crystal structure of [Bmim]2[UO2Br4]

The complex formed by the reaction of the uranyl ion, UO₂²⁺, with bromide ions in the ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Bmim][Tf₂N]) and methyl-tributylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([MeBu₃N][Tf₂N]) has been investigated by UV–Vis and U L_III-edge EXAFS spectroscopy and compared to the crystal structure of [Bmim]₂[UO₂Br₄]. The solid state reveals a classical tetragonal bipyramid geometry for [UO₂Br₄]²⁻ with hydrogen bonds between the Bmim⁺ and the coordinated bromides. The UV–Vis spectroscopy reveals the quantitative formation of [UO₂Br₄]²⁻ when a stoichiometric amount of bromide ions is added to UO₂(CF₃SO₃)₂ in both Tf₂N-based ionic liquids. The absorption spectrum also suggests a D_4h symmetry for [UO₂Br₄]²⁻ in ionic liquids, as previously observed for the [UO₂Cl₄]²⁻ congener. EXAFS analysis supports this conclusion and demonstrates that the [UO₂Br₄]²⁻ coordination polyhedron is maintained in the ionic liquids without any coordinating solvent or water molecules. The mean U–O and U–Br distances in the solutions, determined by EXAFS, are, respectively, 1.766(2) and 2.821(2) Å in [Bmim][Tf₂N], and, respectively, 1.768(2) and 2.827(2) Å, in [MeBu₃N][Tf₂N]. Similar results are obtained in both ionic liquids indicating no significant influence of the ionic liquid cation either on the complexation reaction or on the structure of the uranyl species.