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Characterization of Uranyl Coordinated by Equatorial Oxygen: Oxo in UO3 versus Oxyl in UO3+

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory

Uranium trioxide, UO3, has a T-shaped structure with bent uranyl, UO22+, coordinated by an equatorial oxo, O2–. The structure of cation UO3+ is similar but with an equatorial oxyl, O•–. Neutral and cationic uranium trioxide coordinated by nitrates were characterized by collision induced dissociation (CID), infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy, and density functional theory. CID of uranyl nitrate, [UO2(NO3)3] (complex A1), eliminates NO2 to produce nitrate-coordinated UO3+, [UO2(O)(NO3)2]– (B1), which ejects NO3 to yield UO3 in [UO2(O)(NO3)] (C1). Finally, C1 associates with H2O to afford uranyl hydroxide in [UO2(OH)2(NO3)] (D1). IRMPD of B1, C1, and D1 confirms uranyl equatorially coordinated by nitrate(s) along with the following ligands: (B1) radical oxyl O•–; (C1) oxo O2–; and (D1) two hydroxyls, OH. As the nitrates are bidentate, the equatorial coordination is six in A1, five in B1, four in D1, and three in C1. Ligand congestion in low-coordinate C1 suggests orbital-directed bonding. Hydrolysis of the equatorial oxo in C1 epitomizes the inverse trans influence in UO3, which is uranyl with inert axial oxos and a reactive equatorial oxo. The uranyl ν3 IR frequencies indicate the following donor ordering: O2–[best donor] >> O•– > OH > NO3.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1840948
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. A, Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment, and General Theory Journal Issue: 25 Vol. 125; ISSN 1089-5639
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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