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., Nd^III) and an isoelectronic one (Eu^III). 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 Eu^III and Nd^III complexes revealed subtle electronic differences between the complexes of Am^III and the lanthanides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]