skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Synthesis and crystal structure of UO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}(THF){sub 3}: A simple preparation of an anhydrous uranyl reagent

Journal Article · · Inorganic Chemistry
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ic990159g· OSTI ID:20000075

Solid state Structures of molecular uranyl compounds are commonly described in the literature. The vast majority of these species have been isolated from aqueous media, and the presence of water often influences the resulting structures through hydrogen bonding and/or inner-sphere water coordination. The development of nonaqueous uranyl chemistry has demonstrated the existence of novel coordination geometries in the absence of these effects. Further studies are required to examine the potentially unique electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of these products. Until recently, the development of nonaqueous uranyl chemistry has been inhibited by a lack of appropriate starting materials. Several thermal routes for the synthesis of anhydrous UO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2} have been reported. However, they are generally unsuitable for the generation of reagents because of difficulties encountered separating precursors and/or side products from UO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}, the unavailability of a commercial source for starting materials, e.g., UCl{sub 4}, or the limited scale of preparation. The authors have been interested in the development of nonaqueous uranyl chemistry in order to examine physical properties of uranyl species unstable to hydrolysis. The expansion of this chemistry has been facilitated by the development of a simple one-pot dehydration of UO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}{center{underscore}dot}x(H{sub 2}O) (x = 1,3) for the preparation of UO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}(THF){sub 3} (1). The previously reported dimeric derivative, [UO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}(THF){sub 2}]{sub 2} (2), may be isolated upon desolvation of 1. Compound 2 is an excellent starting material for the further synthesis of uranyl alkoxides and uranyl amides.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
20000075
Journal Information:
Inorganic Chemistry, Vol. 38, Issue 18; Other Information: PBD: 6 Sep 1999; ISSN 0020-1669
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English