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The subtle energetic differences underpinning adjacent lanthanide discrimination are explored with diglycolamide ligands. Our approach converges liquid–liquid extraction experiments with solution-phase X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and density functional theory (DFT) simulations, spanning the lanthanide series. The homoleptic [(DGA)3Ln]3+ complex was confirmed in the organic extractive solution by XAS, and this was modeled using DFT. An interplay between steric strain and coordination energies apparently gives rise to a nonlinear trend in discriminatory lanthanide ion complexation across the series. Our results highlight the importance of optimizing chelate molecular geometry to account for both coordination interactions and strain energies when designing new ligands for efficient adjacent lanthanide separation for rare-earth refining.

The rare earth elements (REEs) such as neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium were successfully recovered from commercial NdFeB magnets and industrial scrap magnets via membrane assisted solvent extraction (MSX). A hollow fiber membrane system was evaluated to extract REEs in a single step with the feed and strip solutions circulating continuously through the MSX system. The effects of several experimental variables on REE extraction such as flow rate, concentration of REEs in the feed solution, membrane configuration, and composition of acids were investigated with the MSX system. A multimembrane module configuration with REEs dissolved in aqueous nitric acid solutions showed high selectivity for REE extraction with no coextraction of non-REEs, whereas the use of aqueous hydrochloric acid solution resulted in coextraction of non-REEs due to the formation of chloroanions of non-REEs. The REE oxides were recovered from the strip solution through precipitation, drying, and annealing steps. The resulting REE oxides were characterized with XRD, SEM-EDX, and ICP-OES, demonstrating that the membrane assisted solvent extraction is capable of selectively recovering pure REEs from the industrial scrap magnets.

A significant increase in the stability of a series of dithiophosphinic acids (DPAHs) under oxidizing acidic conditions was achieved. The degradation behavior of a series of DPAHs, designed for lanthanide/actinide separation, was examined. The stability of the DPAHs, when contacted with varying nitric acid concentrations, was tested and monitored using 31P {1H} NMR. Changes in the functional groups of the DPAHs resulted in substantial increases in the stability. However, when placed in contact with 2 M HNO3 all the DPAHs eventually showed signs of degradation. The addition of a radical scavenger, hydrazine, inhibited the degradation of the DPAHs. In the presence of a small concentration of hydrazine, five of the DPAHs remained stable for over a month in direct contact with 2 M HNO3.

The nature of the degradation product obtained upon contacting CYANEX 301 (bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid) with nitric acid has been elucidated and found to be a disulfide derivative. The first step to the degradation of CYANEX 301 in toluene has been studied using 31P{1H} NMR after being contacted with nitric acid media. The spectrum of the degradation product exhibits a complex multiplet around δP = 80 ppm. A succession of purifications of CYANEX 301 has resulted in single crystals of the acidic form and the corresponding ammonium salt. Unlike the original CYANEX 301, which consists of a complex diastereomeric mixture displaying all possible combinations of chiral orientations at the 2-methyl positions, the purified crystals were shown by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to be racemates, containing 50:50 mixtures of the [R;R] and [S;S] diastereomers. The comparison between the 31P {1H} NMR spectra of the degradation products resulting from the diastereomerically pure CYANEX 301 and the ...

A four-step synthesis for 4,6-bis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)dibenzofuran (4) from dibenzofuran and a two-step synthesis for 4,6-bis(diphenylphosphinoyl)dibenzofuran (5) are reported along with coordination chemistry of 4 with In(III), La(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Er(III), and Pu(IV) and of 5 with Er(III). Crystal structure determinations for the ligands, 4·CH(3)OH and 5, the 1:1 complexes [In(4)(NO(3))(3)], [Pr(4)(NO(3))(3)(CH(3)CN)]·0.5CH(3)CN, [Er(4)(NO(3))(3)(CH(3)CN)]·CH(3)CN, [Pu(4)Cl(4)]·THF and the 2:1 complex [Nd(4)(2)(NO(3))(2)](2)(NO(3))(2)·(H(2)O)·4(CH(3)OH) are described. In these complexes, ligand 4 coordinates in a bidentate POP'O' mode via the two phosphine oxide O-atoms. The dibenzofuran ring O-atom points toward the central metal cations, but in every case it is more than 4 Å from the metal. A similar bidentate POP'O' chelate structure is formed between 5 and Er(III) in the complex, {[Er(5)(2)(NO(3))(2)](NO(3))·4(CH(3)OH)}(0.5), although the nonbonded Er···O(furan) distance is reduced to ∼3.6 Å. The observed bidentate chelation modes for 4 and 5 are consistent with results from molecular mechanics computations. The solvent extraction performance of 4 and 5 in 1,2-dichloroethane for Eu(III) and Am(III) in nitric acid solutions is described and compared against the extraction behavior of n-octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethyl phosphine oxide (OΦDiBCMPO) measured under identical conditions.

In this work, we show that the use of a high boiling point ether solvent (tetraglyme) promotes the formation of Li2O2 in a lithium-air cell. However, another major constituent in the discharge product of a Li-air cell contains halides from the lithium salts and C-O from the tetraglyme used as the solvent. This information is critical to the development of Li-air electrolytes, which are stable and promote the formation of the desired Li2O2 products.

An ion-pair receptor, the calix[4]pyrrole-calix[4]arene pseudodimer 2, bearing a strong anion-recognition site but not a weak cation-recognition site, has been synthesized and characterized by standard spectroscopic means and via single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In 10% CD(3)OD in CDCl(3) (v/v), this new receptor binds neither the Cs(+) cation nor the F(-) anion when exposed to these species in the presence of other counterions; however, it forms a stable 1:1 solvent-separated CsF complex when exposed to these two ions in concert with one another in this same solvent mixture. In contrast to what is seen in the case of a previously reported crown ether "strapped" calixarene-calixpyrrole ion-pair receptor 1 (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 13162-13166), where Cs(+) cation recognition takes place within the crown, in 2.CsF cation recognition takes place within the receptor cavity itself, as inferred from both single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and (1)H NMR spectroscopic studies. This binding mode is supported by calculations carried out using the MMFF94 force field model. In 10% CD(3)OD in CDCl(3) (v/v), receptor 2 shows selectivity for CsF over the Cs(+) salts of Cl(-), Br(-), and NO(3)(-) but will bind these other cesium salts in the absence of fluoride, both in solution and in the solid state. In the case of CsCl, an unprecedented 2:2 complex is observed in the solid state that is characterized by two different ion-pair binding modes. One of these consists of a contact ion pair with the cesium cation and chloride anion both being bound within the central binding pocket and in direct contact with one another. The other mode involves a chloride anion bound to the pyrrole NH protons of a calixpyrrole subunit and a cesium cation sandwiched between two cone shaped calix[4]pyrroles originating from separate receptor units. In contrast to what is seen for CsF and CsCl, single-crystal X-ray structural analyses and (1)H NMR spectroscopic studies reveal that receptor 2 forms a 1:1 complex with CsNO(3), with the ions bound in the form of a contact ion pair. Thus, depending on the counteranion, receptor 2 is able to stabilize three different ion-pair binding modes with Cs(+), namely solvent-bridged, contact, and host-separated.