Origins of the odd optical observables in plutonium and americium tungstates.

A series of trivalent f-block tungstates, MW2O7(OH)(H2O) (M = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Pu) and AmWO4(OH), have been prepared in crystalline form using hydrothermal methods. Both structure types take the form of 3D networks where MW2O7(OH)(H2O) is assembled from infinite chains of distorted tungstate octahedra linked by isolated MO8 bicapped trigonal prisms; whereas AmWO4(OH) is constructed from edge-sharing AmO8 square antiprisms connected by distorted tungstate trigonal bipyramids. PuW2O7(OH)(H2O) crystallizes as red plates; an atypical color for a Pu(iii) compound. Optical absorption spectra acquired from single crystals show strong, broadband absorption in the visible region. A similar feature is observed for CeW2O7(OH)(H2O), but not for AmWO4(OH). Here we demonstrate that these significantly different optical properties do not stem directly from the 5f electrons, as in both systems the valence band has mostly O-2p character and the conduction band has mostly W-5d character. Furthermore, the quasi-particle gap is essentially unaffected by the 5f degrees of freedom. Despite this, our analysis demonstrates that the f-electron covalency effects are quite important and substantially different energetically in PuW2O7(OH)(H2O) and AmWO4(OH), indicating that the optical gap alone cannot be used to infer conclusions concerning the f electron contribution to the chemical bond in these systems.

Cs[Tf2N]: a second polymorph with a layered structure.

The structural determination of the ionic liquid, caesium bis-[(tri-fluoro-meth-yl)sulfon-yl]imide or poly[[µ4-bis-[(tri-fluoro-meth-yl)sulfon-yl]imido]caesium(I)], Cs[N(SO2CF3)2] or Cs[Tf2N], reveals a second polymorph that also crystallizes in a layer structure possessing monoclinic P21/c symmetry at 120 K instead of C2/c for the known polymorph [Xue et al. (2002 ▸). Solid State Sci.4, 1535-1545]. The caesium ions in the cationic layers are coordinated by the sulfonyl groups of the bis-triflimide mol-ecules from anion layers while the tri-fluoro-methyl groups are oriented in the opposite direction, forming a non-polar surface separating the layers. The layer direction is (100).

Incipient class II mixed valency in a plutonium solid-state compound.

Electron transfer in mixed-valent transition-metal complexes, clusters and materials is ubiquitous in both natural and synthetic systems. The degree to which intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) occurs, dependent on the degree of delocalization, places these within class II or III of the Robin-Day system. In contrast to the d-block, compounds of f-block elements typically exhibit class I behaviour (no IVCT) because of localization of the valence electrons and poor spatial overlap between metal and ligand orbitals. Here, we report experimental and computational evidence for delocalization of 5f electrons in the mixed-valent PuIII/PuIV solid-state compound, Pu3(DPA)5(H2O)2 (DPA = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate). The properties of this compound are benchmarked by the pure PuIII and PuIV dipicolinate complexes, [PuIII(DPA)(H2O)4]Br and PuIV(DPA)2(H2O)3·3H2O, as well as by a second mixed-valent compound, PuIII[PuIV(DPA)3H0.5]2, that falls into class I instead. Metal-to-ligand charge transfer is involved in both the formation of Pu3(DPA)5(H2O)2 and in the IVCT.

Covalency-Driven Dimerization of Plutonium(IV) in a Hydroxamate Complex.

The reaction of formohydroxamic acid [NH(OH)CHO, FHA] with Pu(III) should result in stabilization of the trivalent oxidation state. However, slow oxidation to Pu(IV) occurs, which leads to formation of the dimeric plutonium(IV) formohydroxamate complex Pu2(FHA)8. In addition to being reductants, hydroxamates are also strong π-donor ligands. Here we show that formation of the Pu2(FHA)8 dimer occurs via covalency between the 5f orbitals on plutonium and the π* orbitals of FHA(-) anions, which gives rise to a broad and intense ligand-to-metal charge-transfer feature. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations corroborate this assignment.

Spontaneous Partitioning of Californium from Curium: Curious Cases from the Crystallization of Curium Coordination Complexes.

The reaction of (248)CmCl3 with excess 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA) under mild solvothermal conditions results in crystallization of the tris-chelate complex Cm(HDPA)3 · H2O. Approximately half of the curium remains in solution at the end of this process, and evaporation of the mother liquor results in crystallization of the bis-chelate complex [Cm(HDPA)(H2DPA)(H2O)2Cl]Cl·2H2O. (248)Cm is the daughter of the α decay of (252)Cf and is extracted in high purity from this parent. However, trace amounts of (249,250,251)Cf are still present in all samples of (248)Cm. During the crystallization of Cm(HDPA)3 · H2O and [Cm(HDPA)(H2DPA)(H2O)2Cl]Cl · 2H2O, californium(III) spontaneously separates itself from the curium complexes and is found doped within crystals of DPA in the form of Cf(HDPA)3. These results add to the growing body of evidence that the chemistry of californium is fundamentally different from that of earlier actinides.

Emergence of californium as the second transitional element in the actinide series.

A break in periodicity occurs in the actinide series between plutonium and americium as the result of the localization of 5f electrons. The subsequent chemistry of later actinides is thought to closely parallel lanthanides in that bonding is expected to be ionic and complexation should not substantially alter the electronic structure of the metal ions. Here we demonstrate that ligation of californium(III) by a pyridine derivative results in significant deviations in the properties of the resultant complex with respect to that predicted for the free ion. We expand on this by characterizing the americium and curium analogues for comparison, and show that these pronounced effects result from a second transition in periodicity in the actinide series that occurs, in part, because of the stabilization of the divalent oxidation state. The metastability of californium(II) is responsible for many of the unusual properties of californium including the green photoluminescence.

Chirality and polarity in the f-block borates M4[B16O26(OH)4(H2O)3Cl4] (M = Sm, Eu, Gd, Pu, Am, Cm, and Cf).

The reactions of trivalent lanthanides and actinides with molten boric acid in high chloride concentrations result in the formation of M4[B16O26(OH)4(H2O)3Cl4] (M = Sm, Eu, Gd, Pu, Am, Cm, Cf). This cubic structure type is remarkably complex and displays both chirality and polarity. The polymeric borate network forms helical features that are linked via two different types of nine-coordinate f-element environments. The f-f transitions are unusually intense and result in dark coloration of these compounds with actinides.

Further evidence for the stabilization of U(V) within a tetraoxo core.

Two complex layered uranyl borates, K10[(UO2)16(B2O5)2(BO3)6O8]·7H2O (1) and K13[(UO2)19(UO4)(B2O5)2(BO3)6(OH)2O5]·H2O (2), were isolated from supercritical water reactions. Within these compounds, borate exists only as BO3 units and is found as either isolated BO3 triangles or B2O5 dimers, the latter being formed from corner sharing of two BO3 units. These anions, along with oxide and hydroxide, bridge between uranyl centers to create the complex layers in these compounds. U(VI) cations are found within uranyl, UO2(2+) units, that are bound by four or five oxygen atoms to create tetragonal and pentagonal bipyramidal environments. The most striking feature in this system is found in 2, where a [UO4(OH)2] unit exists that contains U(V) within a tetraoxo core with trans hydroxide anions; therefore, this compound is a mixed-valent U(VI)/U(V) borate. The presence of a 5f(1) uranium site within 2 leads to unusual optical properties.

Unusual structure, bonding and properties in a californium borate.

The participation of the valence orbitals of actinides in bonding has been debated for decades. Recent experimental and computational investigations demonstrated the involvement of 6p, 6d and/or 5f orbitals in bonding. However, structural and spectroscopic data, as well as theory, indicate a decrease in covalency across the actinide series, and the evidence points to highly ionic, lanthanide-like bonding for late actinides. Here we show that chemical differentiation between californium and lanthanides can be achieved by using ligands that are both highly polarizable and substantially rearrange on complexation. A ligand that suits both of these desired properties is polyborate. We demonstrate that the 5f, 6d and 7p orbitals are all involved in bonding in a Cf(III) borate, and that large crystal-field effects are present. Synthetic, structural and spectroscopic data are complemented by quantum mechanical calculations to support these observations.

Th(VO3)2(SeO3) and Ln(VO3)2(IO3) (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu): unusual cases of aliovalent substitution.

Th(VO3)2(SeO3) and Ln(VO3)2(IO3) (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu) have been prepared and characterized. Surprisingly, these compounds are isotypic and rather extreme examples of aliovalent substitution (Th(IV)vs. Ln(III); Se(IV)O3(2-)vs. I(V)O3(-)) are possible in this structure type.

Synthesis and spectroscopy of new plutonium(III) and -(IV) molybdates: comparisons of electronic characteristics.

Synthesis of a plutonium(III) molybdate bromide, PuMoO4Br(H2O), has been accomplished using hydrothermal techniques in an inert-atmosphere glovebox. The compound is green in color, which is in stark contrast to the typical blue color of plutonium(III) complexes. The unusual color arises from the broad charge transfer (CT) spanning from approximately 300 to 500 nm in the UV-vis-near-IR spectra. Repeating the synthesis with an increase in the reaction temperature results in the formation of a plutonium(IV) molybdate, Pu3Mo6O24(H2O)2, which also has a broad CT band and red-shifted f-f transitions. Performing an analogous reaction with neodymium produced a completely different product, [Nd(H2O)3][NdMo12O42]·2H2O, which is built of Silverton-type polyoxometallate clusters.

Two novel acentric borate fluorides: M3B6O11F2 (M = Sr, Ba).

Two novel, noncentrosymmetric borate fluorides, Sr(3)B(6)O(11)F(2) and Ba(3)B(6)O(11)F(2), have been synthesized hydrothermally and their structures determined. The compounds are isostructural, crystallizing in space group P2(1), having lattice parameters of a = 6.4093 (13) Å, b = 8.2898 (17) Å, c = 9.3656 (19) Å, and ß = 101.51 (3)° for Sr(3)B(6)O(11)F(2) and a = 6.5572 (13) Å, b = 8.5107 (17) Å, c = 9.6726 (19) Å, and ß = 101.21 (3)° for Ba(3)B(6)O(11)F(2). The structure consists of a complex triple-ring borate framework having aligned triangular [BO(3)] groups that impart polarity. Fluorine atoms are bound only to the alkaline-earth metals and are not part of the borate framework, resulting in a vastly different structure from those of the hydrated borates Sr(3)B(6)O(11)(OH)(2) and Ba(3)B(6)O(11)(OH)(2) with similar formulas. The title compounds are transparent to nearly 200 nm, making them potentially useful for deep-ultraviolet nonlinear-optical applications.

Crystal chemistry of the potassium and rubidium uranyl borate families derived from boric acid fluxes.

The reaction of uranyl nitrate with a large excess of molten boric acid in the presence of potassium or rubidium nitrate results in the formation of three new potassium uranyl borates, K(2)[(UO(2))(2)B(12)O(19)(OH)(4)].0.3H(2)O (KUBO-1), K[(UO(2))(2)B(10)O(15)(OH)(5)] (KUBO-2), and K[(UO(2))(2)B(10)O(16)(OH)(3)].0.7H(2)O (KUBO-3) and two new rubidium uranyl borates Rb(2)[(UO(2))(2)B(13)O(20)(OH)(5)] (RbUBO-1) and Rb[(UO(2))(2)B(10)O(16)(OH)(3)].0.7H(2)O (RbUBO-2). The latter is isotypic with KUBO-3. These compounds share a common structural motif consisting of a linear uranyl, UO(2)(2+), cation surrounded by BO(3) triangles and BO(4) tetrahedra to create an UO(8) hexagonal bipyramidal environment around uranium. The borate anions bridge between uranyl units to create sheets. Additional BO(3) triangles extend from the polyborate layers and are directed approximately perpendicular to the sheets. All of these compounds adopt layered structures. With the exception of KUBO-1, the structures are all centrosymmetric. All of these compounds fluoresce when irradiated with long-wavelength UV light. The fluorescence spectrum yields well-defined vibronically coupled charge-transfer features.

How are centrosymmetric and noncentrosymmetric structures achieved in uranyl borates?

Four uranyl borates, UO(2)B(2)O(4) (UBO-1), alpha-(UO(2))(2)[B(9)O(14)(OH)(4)] (UBO-2), beta-(UO(2))(2)[B(9)O(14)(OH)(4)] (UBO-3), and (UO(2))(2)[B(13)O(20)(OH)(3)].1.25H(2)O (UBO-4), have been prepared from boric acid fluxes at 190 degrees C. UBO-3 and UBO-4 are centrosymmetric, whereas UBO-1 and UBO-2 are noncentrosymmetric (chiral and polar). These uranyl borates possess layered structures constructed from UO(8) hexagonal bipyramids, BO(3) triangles, and BO(4) tetrahedra. In the case of UBO-4, clusters of BO(3) triangles link the layers together to form open slabs with a thickness of almost 2 nm. The ability of uranyl borates to use very similar layers to yield both centrosymmetric and noncentrosymmetric layers is detailed in this work.