Comparing the 2,2′-Biphenylenedithiophosphinate Binding of Americium with Neodymium and Europium.

Advancing our understanding of the minor actinides (Am, Cm) versus lanthanides is key for developing advanced nuclear-fuel cycles. Herein, we describe the preparation of (NBu4)Am[S2P( tBu2C12H6)]4 and two isomorphous lanthanide complexes, namely one with a similar ionic radius (i.e., NdIII) and an isoelectronic one (EuIII). The results include the first measurement of an Am−S bond length, with a mean value of 2.921(9) Å, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Comparison with the EuIII and NdIII complexes revealed subtle electronic differences between the complexes of AmIII and the lanthanides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]