FTICR/MS studies of gas-phase actinide ion reactions: fundamental chemical and physical properties of atomic and molecular actinide ions and neutrals

Fundamental aspects of the chemical and physical properties of atomic and molecular actinide ions and neutrals are being examined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR/MS). To date, gas-phase reactivity studies of bare and ligated An⁺ and An²⁺ ions, where An = Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, and Cm, with oxidants and with hydrocarbons have been performed. Among the information that has been deduced from these studies are thermodynamic properties of neutral and ionic actinide oxide molecules and the role of the 5f electrons in actinide chemistry. Parallel theoretical studies of selected actinide molecular ions have also been carried out to substantiate the interpretation of the experimental observations.     

An ENDOR study of radical spin adducts derived from novel 2-substituted-5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline-N-oxide spin traps

ENDOR spectra of a series of carbon- and oxygen-centered radical adducts of 2-substituted DMPO-type nitrones are reported. They include the novel cyclic nitrones, 2-phenyl-5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline-N-oxide (2-Ph-5,5-M₂PO), 2,5,5-trimethyl-l-pyrroline-N-oxide (2,5,5-M₃PO), and 2-phenyl-3,3,5,5,-tetramethyl-l-pyrroline-N-oxide (2-Ph-3,3,5,5-M₄PO). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was used to ascertain the nitrogen hyperfine splittings (hfs’s) while¹H ENDOR was employed to determine the long-range (γ) hydrogen hfs’s. The magnitude of the nitrogen hfs combined with the numbers and sizes of the long-range γ-H hfs’s of spin adducts of these new spin traps are shown to help disclose the identities of various added radicals (or radical addends). It should be noted that the three new spin traps presented here are keto-nitrones not aldo-nitrones. Thus, there is alkyl (e.g. CH₃) or aryl (e.g. C₆H₅) substitution at the 2-position of the pyrroline-N-oxide ring. This feature is part of our search for modified spin traps that yield spin adducts with greater stability.     

Spectrophotometric studies of transcurium element halides and oxyhalides in the solid state

The present state of a microscale spectrophotometric technique is described. The unique advantages of applying both spectrophotometric and X-ray powder diffraction methods on the sample, in order to identify and characterize newly synthesized compounds, are also discussed. Analytical Chemistry Division, ORNL. Research sponsored by the Division of Physical Research, United States Energy Research and Development Administration under contracts with Union Carbide Corporation and the University of Tennessee (Knoxville).     

Gas-phase chemistry of bare and oxo-ligated protactinium ions: a contribution to a systematic understanding of actinide chemistry

Gas-phase chemistry of bare and oxo-ligated protactinium ions has been studied for the first time. Comparisons were made with thorium, uranium, and neptunium ion chemistry to further the systematic understanding of 5f elements. The rates of oxidation of Pa(+) and PaO(+) by ethylene oxide compared with those of the homologous uranium ions indicate that the first and second bond dissociation energies, BDE[Pa(+)-O] and BDE[OPa(+)-O], are approximately 800 kJ mol(-1). The relatively facile fluorination of Pa(+) to PaF(4)(+) by SF(6) is consistent with the high stability of the pentavalent oxidation state of Pa. Reactions with ethene, propene, 1-butene, and iso-butene revealed that Pa(+) is a very reactive metal ion. In analogy with U(+) chemistry, ethene was trimerized by Pa(+) to give PaC(6)H(6)(+). Reactions of Pa(+) with larger alkenes resulted in secondary and tertiary products not observed for U(+) or Np(+). The bare protactinium ion is significantly more reactive with organic substrates than are heavier actinide ions. The greatest difference between Pa and heavier actinide congeners was the exceptional dehydrogenation activity of PaO(+) with alkenes; UO(+) and NpO(+) were comparatively inert. The striking reactivity of PaO(+) is attributed to the distinctive electronic structure at the metal center in this oxide, which is considered to reflect the greater availability of the 5f electrons for participation in bonding, either directly or by promotion/hybridization with higher-energy valence orbitals.     

Further examples of the failure of surrogates to properly model the structural and hydrothermal chemistry of transuranium elements: insights provided by uranium and neptunium diphosphonates

In situ hydrothermal reduction of Np(VI) to Np(IV) in the presence of methylenediphosphonic acid (C1P2) results in the crystallization of Np[CH2(PO3)2](H2O)2 (NpC1P2-1). Similar reactions have been explored with U(VI) resulting in the isolation of the U(IV) diphosphonate U[CH2(PO3)2](H2O) (UC1P2-1), and the two U(VI) diphosphonates (UO2)2[CH2(PO3)2](H2O)3.H2O (UC1P2-2) and UO2[CH2(PO3H)2](H2O) (UC1P2-3). Single crystal diffraction studies of NpC1P2-1 reveal that it consists of eight-coordinate Np(IV) bound by diphosphonate anions and two coordinating water molecules to create a polar three-dimensional framework structure wherein the water molecules reside in channels. The structure of UC1P2-1 is similar to that of NpC1P2-1 in that it also adopts a three-dimensional structure. However, the U(IV) centers are seven-coordinate with only a single bound water molecule. UC1P2-2 and UC1P2-3 both contain U(VI). Nevertheless, their structures are quite distinct with UC1P2-2 being composed of corrugated layers containing UO 6 and UO 7 units bridged by C1P2; whereas, UC1P2-3 is found as a polar three-dimensional network structure containing only pentagonal bipyramidal U(VI). Fluorescence measurements on UC1P2-2 and UC1P2-3 exhibit emission from the uranyl moieties with classical vibronic fine-structure.     

A luminescence study of B-type Eu2O3 under pressure

Abstract

Luminescence spectra from Eu³ + ion in B-type (monoclinic) ₂O₃ powder have been recorded at room temperature as a function of pressure using a diamond anvil cell. Changes in the spectral pattern of the Eu³ + ion emission at about 4 GPa indicated that a phase transition to the A-type (hexagonal) structure had taken place. Upon release of the applied pressure, the B-type structure was regained with hysteresis. The spectral shifts with pressure have been used to study the effect of pressure on the spin-orbit interaction of the 4f electrons in the Ed + ion. The relationship between the relative changes in the spin-orbit coupling constant, ζ_4f, and the volume accompanying the phase transition is also discussed.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of Pu(SeO3)2

The reaction between PuO₂ and SeO₂ under mild hydrothermal conditions results in the formation of Pu(SeO₃)₂ as brick-red prisms. This compound adopts the Ce(SeO₃)₂ structure type, and consists of one-dimensional chains of edge-sharing [PuO₈] distorted bicapped trigonal prisms linked by [SeO₃] units into a three-dimensional network. Crystallographic data: Pu(SeO₃)₂, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=6.960(1) Å, b=10.547(2) Å, c=7.245(1) Å, β=106.880(9)°, V=508.98(17) Å³, Z=4 (T=193 K), R(F)=2.92% for 83 parameters with 1140 reflections with I>2σ(I). Magnetic susceptibility data for Pu(SeO₃)₂ are linear from 35 to 320 K and yield an effective moment of 2.71(5) μ_B and a Weiss constant of −500(5) K.