UC Berkeley

Complexation of Np(V) with three structurally related amine-functionalized diacetamide ligands, including 2,2'-azanediylbis( N, N'-dimethylacetamide) (ABDMA), 2,2'-(methylazanediyl)bis( N, N'-dimethylacetamide) (MABDMA), and 2,2'-(benzylazanediyl)bis( N, N'-dimethylacetamide) (BnABDMA), in aqueous solutions was investigated. The stability constants of two successive complexes, namely, NpO₂L⁺ and NpO₂L₂⁺, where L stands for the ligands, were determined by absorption spectrophotometry. The results suggest that the stability constants of corresponding Np(V) complexes follow the trend: MABDMA > ABDMA ≈ BnABDMA. The data are discussed in terms of the basicity of the ligands and compared with those for the complexation of Np(V) with an ether oxygen-linked diacetamide ligand. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure data indicate that, similar to the complexation with Nd³⁺ and UO₂²⁺, the ligands coordinate to NpO₂⁺ in a tridentate mode through the amine nitrogen and two oxygen atoms of the amide groups. Computational results, in conjunction with spectrophotometric data, verify that the 1:2 complexes (NpO₂(L)₂⁺) in aqueous solutions are highly symmetric with Np at the inversion center, so that the f-f transition of Np(V) is forbidden and NpO₂(L)₂⁺ does not display significant absorption in the near-IR region.