Extraction of copper(II) and nickel(II) by nopinoquinone dioxime

In the research for a selective extractant for nickel a strained dioxime, β-nopinoquinone dioxime, has been studied in its extraction properties for copper(II) and nickel(II). Spectroscopic investigations (ESR and NMR) showed that both copper and nickel are extracted as a N,N-coordinated chelate. The extraction studies showed that the use of strained instead of aliphatic dioximes makes the extraction more convenient because of the higher extraction rate, but the selectivity for nickel above copper disappears.δ-nopinoquinone dioxime is easily converted into its furazan by treatment with 1N NaOH. This furazan is a rather weak ligand without significant extraction capacities.