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A 30 year-old PuF4 sample consisting of brown powder (PuF4-b) and pink granules (PuF4-p) was analyzed. X-ray diffraction shows the bulk is comprised of three compounds: PuF4, PuO2, and PuF4·1.6H2O. Broadening of PuF4 XRD peaks suggests possible $$\upalpha$$ -damage. After annealing at 650 °C, crystalline PuF4 and PuO2 remain. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry—with simultaneous evolved gas analysis—of the separated PuF4-p and PuF4-b components reveal a distinct sequence of reactions. Dehydration occurs between ~ 90 and 300 °C. Exothermic annealing of the $$\upalpha$$ -damage occurs in two stages: at 350–355 °C and at 555–558 °C. Hydrofluoric acid, fluorine and helium desorb during the first exotherm. Above 700 °C, PuF4 reacts with PuO2, resulting in oxygen release and mass loss.

A rapid method for the separation and qualitative analysis of several neutron activation products (198Au, 192Ir, 72Ga, 51Cr, 191/195m/197Pt, 54Mn, 57Co, and 59Fe) from fission products and soil matrixes has been developed. Analytes were isolated within 20 h using ion exchange chromatography. After separation, the activation products were characterized by γ-spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Validation experiments demonstrated versatility of the method, showing that the activation products could be isolated from fresh fission products and other contaminants associated with complex soil matrixes.

Presented here are three case studies that demonstrate the breadth of bulk actinide analytical chemistry at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This laboratory was established during the Manhattan Project and is still considered one of the premier analytical laboratories for special nuclear materials characterization around the globe. First, the analytical chemistry of 238Pu is presented, showcasing the unique challenges of this high activity isotope. Next, the analysis of 241AmO2 is discussed from the perspective of supporting nascent production at LANL. Finally, the analytical chemistry support of the production of plutonium non-destructive assay standards is discussed. These examples paint a picture of the analytical capabilities needed to meet the dynamic challenges of LANL’s nuclear programs.

The isolation of [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Ln(C5H4SiMe3)3], formally containing LnII, for all lanthanides (excluding Pm) was surprising given that +2 oxidation states are typically regarded as inaccessible for most 4f-elements. Herein, X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), ground-state density functional theory (DFT), and transition dipole moment calculations are used to investigate the possibility that Ln(C5H4SiMe3)31- (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Y, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) compounds represented molecular LnII complexes. Results from the ground-state DFT calculations were supported by additional calculations that utilized complete-active-space multi-configuration approach with second-order perturbation theoretical correction (CASPT2). Through comparisons with standards, Ln(C5H4SiMe3)31- (Ln = Sm, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y) are determined to contain 4f6 5d0 (SmII), 4f13 5d0 (TmII), 4f14 5d0 (YbII), 4f14 5d1 (LuII), and 4d1 (YII) electronic configurations. Additionally, our results suggest that Ln(C5H4SiMe3)31- (Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er) also contain LnII ions, but with 4f n 5d1 configurations (not 4f n+1 5d0). In these 4f n 5d1 complexes, the C3h-symmetric ligand environment provides a highly shielded 5d-orbital of a' symmetry that made the 4f n 5d1 electronic configurations lower in energy than the more typical 4f n+1 5d0 configuration.

Covalency in Ln-Cl bonds of Oh-LnCl6(x-) (x = 3 for Ln = Ce(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III); x = 2 for Ln = Ce(IV)) anions has been investigated, primarily using Cl K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT); however, Ce L3,2-edge and M5,4-edge XAS were also used to characterize CeCl6(x-) (x = 2, 3). The M5,4-edge XAS spectra were modeled using configuration interaction calculations. The results were evaluated as a function of (1) the lanthanide (Ln) metal identity, which was varied across the series from Ce to Gd, and (2) the Ln oxidation state (when practical, i.e., formally Ce(III) and Ce(IV)). Pronounced mixing between the Cl 3p- and Ln 5d-orbitals (t2g* and eg*) was observed. Experimental results indicated that Ln 5d-orbital mixing decreased when moving across the lanthanide series. In contrast, oxidizing Ce(III) to Ce(IV) had little effect on Cl 3p and Ce 5d-orbital mixing. For LnCl6(3-) (formally Ln(III)), the 4f-orbitals participated only marginally in covalent bonding, which was consistent with historical descriptions. Surprisingly, there was a marked increase in Cl 3p- and Ce(IV) 4f-orbital mixing (t1u* + t2u*) in CeCl6(2-). This unexpected 4f- and 5d-orbital participation in covalent bonding is presented in the context of recent studies on both tetravalent transition metal and actinide hexahalides, MCl6(2-) (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, U).

New members of the dithiophosphinic acid family of potential actinide extractants were prepared: heterocyclic 2,2'-biphenylenedithiophosphinic acids of stoichiometry HS2P(R2C12H6) (R = H or (t)Bu). The time- and atom-efficient syntheses afforded multigram quantities of pure HS2P(R2C12H6) in reasonable yields (∼60%). These compounds differed from other diaryldithiophosphinic acid extractants in that the two aryl groups were connected to one another at the ortho positions to form a 5-membered dibenzophosphole ring. These 2,2'-biphenylenedithiophosphinic acids were readily deprotonated to form S2P(R2C12H6)(1-) anions, which were crystallized as salts with tetraphenylpnictonium cations (ZPh4(1+); Z = P or As). Coordination chemistry between [S2P((t)Bu2C12H6)](1-) and [S2P(C6H5)2](1-) with U, Np, and Pu was comparatively investigated. The results showed that dithiophosphinate complexes of U(IV) and Np(IV) were redox stable relative to those of U(III), whereas reactions involving Pu(IV) gave intractable material. For instance, reactions involving U(IV) and Np(IV) generated An[S2P((t)Bu2C12H6)]4 and An[S2P(C6H5)2]4 whereas reactions between Pu(IV) and [S2P(C6H5)2](1-) generated a mixture of products from which we postulated a transient Pu(III) species based on UV-Vis spectroscopy. However, the trivalent Pu[S2P(C6H5)2]3(NC5H5)2 compound is stable and could be isolated from reactions between [S2P(C6H5)2](1-) and the trivalent PuI3(NC5H5)4 starting material. Attempts to synthesize analogous trivalent compounds with U(III) provided the tetravalent U[S2P(C6H5)2]4 oxidation product.

We test common fluence diagnostics in the regime of very low burnup natural uranium reactor samples. The fluence diagnostics considered are the uranium isotopics ratios $^{235}$U/$^{238}$U and $^{236}$U/$^{235}$U, for which we find simple analytic formulas agree well with full reactor simulation predictions. Both ratios agree reasonably well with one another for fluences in the mid $10^{19}\,\mathrm{n/cm^2}$ range. However, below about $10^{19}\,\mathrm{n/cm^2}$ the concentrations of $^{236}$U are found to be sufficiently low that the measured $^{236}$U/$^{235}$U ratios become unreliable. We also derive and test diagnostics for determining sample cooling times in situations where very low burnup and very long cooling times render many standard diagnostics, such as the $^{241}$Am/$^{241}$Pu ratio, impractical. We find that using several fragment ratios are necessary to detect the presence of systematic errors, such as fractionation., 7 pages, 4 figures

LnII(C5H4SiMe3)1– have been characterized by XANES and DFT., The isolation of [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Ln(C5H4SiMe3)3], formally containing LnII, for all lanthanides (excluding Pm) was surprising given that +2 oxidation states are typically regarded as inaccessible for most 4f-elements. Herein, X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), ground-state density functional theory (DFT), and transition dipole moment calculations are used to investigate the possibility that Ln(C5H4SiMe3)3 1– (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Y, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) compounds represented molecular LnII complexes. Results from the ground-state DFT calculations were supported by additional calculations that utilized complete-active-space multi-configuration approach with second-order perturbation theoretical correction (CASPT2). Through comparisons with standards, Ln(C5H4SiMe3)3 1– (Ln = Sm, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y) are determined to contain 4f6 5d0 (SmII), 4f13 5d0 (TmII), 4f14 5d0 (YbII), 4f14 5d1 (LuII), and 4d1 (YII) electronic configurations. Additionally, our results suggest that Ln(C5H4SiMe3)3 1– (Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er) also contain LnII ions, but with 4fn 5d1 configurations (not 4fn+1 5d0). In these 4fn 5d1 complexes, the C 3h-symmetric ligand environment provides a highly shielded 5d-orbital of a′ symmetry that made the 4fn 5d1 electronic configurations lower in energy than the more typical 4fn+1 5d0 configuration.

Synthetic routes to salts containing uranium bis-imido tetrahalide anions [U(NR)(2)X(4)](2-) (X = Cl(-), Br(-)) and non-coordinating NEt(4)(+) and PPh(4)(+) countercations are reported. In general, these compounds can be prepared from U(NR)(2)I(2)(THF)(x) (x = 2 and R = (t)Bu, Ph; x = 3 and R = Me) upon addition of excess halide. In addition to providing stable coordination complexes with Cl(-), the [U(NMe)(2)](2+) cation also reacts with Br(-) to form stable [NEt(4)](2)[U(NMe)(2)Br(4)] complexes. These materials were used as a platform to compare electronic structure and bonding in [U(NR)(2)](2+) with [UO(2)](2+). Specifically, Cl K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and both ground-state and time-dependent hybrid density functional theory (DFT and TDDFT) were used to probe U-Cl bonding interactions in [PPh(4)](2)[U(N(t)Bu)(2)Cl(4)] and [PPh(4)](2)[UO(2)Cl(4)]. The DFT and XAS results show the total amount of Cl 3p character mixed with the U 5f orbitals was roughly 7-10% per U-Cl bond for both compounds, which shows that moving from oxo to imido has little effect on orbital mixing between the U 5f and equatorial Cl 3p orbitals. The results are presented in the context of recent Cl K-edge XAS and DFT studies on other hexavalent uranium chloride systems with fewer oxo or imido ligands.

This project aims to provide an electronic structure-to-function understanding of extractants for actinide selective separation processes. The research entails a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates chemical syntheses, structural determination, K-edge X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. In FY15, the project reached the final stage of testing the extraction performance of a new ligand design and preparing an americium-extractant complex for analysis.

2-Vinylchromanes (1), 2-vinyl-1,4-benzodioxanes (2), and 2,3-dihydro-2-vinyl-2H-1,4-benzoxazines (3) can be prepared in high yields (90-98%) and excellent enantiomeric purities (87-98% ee) by [COP-OAc](2)-catalyzed cyclization of phenolic (E)-allylic trichloroacetimidate precursors. Deuterium-labeling and computational experiments are consistent with these cyclization reactions taking place by an anti-oxypalladation/syn-deoxypalladation mechanism. 2-Vinylchromanes can also be prepared in good yields and high enantiomeric purities from analogous (E)-allylic acetate precursors, which constitutes the first report that acetate is a competent leaving group in COP-catalyzed enantioselective S(N)2' substitution reactions.

Herein, we have evaluated relative changes in M-S electronic structure and orbital mixing in Group 6 MS4(2-) dianions using solid- and solution-phase S K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS; M = Mo, W), as well as density functional theory (DFT; M = Cr, Mo, W) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. To facilitate comparison with solution measurements (conducted in acetonitrile), theoretical models included gas-phase calculations as well as those that incorporated an acetonitrile dielectric, the latter of which provided better agreement with experiment. Two pre-edge features arising from S 1s → e* and t electron excitations were observed in the S K-edge XAS spectra and were reasonably assigned as (1)A1 → (1)T2 transitions. For MoS4(2-), both solution-phase pre-edge peak intensities were consistent with results from the solid-state spectra. For WS4(2-), solution- and solid-state pre-edge peak intensities for transitions involving e* were equivalent, while transitions involving the t orbitals were less intense in solution. Experimental and computational results have been presented in comparison to recent analyses of MO4(2-) dianions, which allowed M-S and M-O orbital mixing to be evaluated as the principle quantum number (n) for the metal valence d orbitals increased (3d, 4d, 5d). Overall, the M-E (E = O, S) analyses revealed distinct trends in orbital mixing. For example, as the Group 6 triad was descended, e* (π*) orbital mixing remained constant in the M-S bonds, but increased appreciably for M-O interactions. For the t orbitals (σ* + π*), mixing decreased slightly for M-S bonding and increased only slightly for the M-O interactions. These results suggested that the metal and ligand valence orbital energies and radial extensions delicately influenced the orbital compositions for isoelectronic ME4(2-) (E = O, S) dianions.

The current investigation was designed to explore the interrelationships among stress, anxiety, and depression in a population of law enforcement personnel. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) were administered to police officers from a medium sized police department in Massachusetts (N=43). Correlation coefficients were conducted on the data. Additionally,t-tests were performed on demographic data regarding marital status and exercise to examine possible mediating factors in the development of symptoms. Implications for these findings and possibilities for future research are discussed.

Catalysts (I) and (II) efficiently promote the enantioselective rearrangement of (E)-alkenylated phenols to 2-vinyl oxygen heterocycles.

The first di-μ-amidate dipalladium complexes and a new di-μ-carboxylate dipalladium complex of the COP (cobalt oxazoline palladacycle) palladium(II) catalyst family are reported and characterized crystallographically. The di-μ-amidate complex 3 or its enantiomer (ent-3) are the first asymmetric catalysts that allow commercially available, or readily accessible, (E)-2-alkene-1-ols to be transformed to enantioenriched branched allylic aryl ethers upon reaction of their trichloroacetimidate derivatives with phenols. The 3-aryloxy-1-alkene products are formed in high enantiomeric purity (typically 90–98% ee) and useful yields (61–88%).

The first di-μ-amidate dipalladium complexes and a new di-μ-carboxylate dipalladium complex of the COP (cobalt oxazoline palladacycle) palladium(II) catalyst family are reported and characterized crystallographically. The di-μ-amidate complex 3 or its enantiomer (ent-3) are the first asymmetric catalysts that allow commercially available, or readily accessible, (E)-2-alkene-1-ols to be transformed to enantioenriched branched allylic aryl ethers upon reaction of their trichloroacetimidate derivatives with phenols. The 3-aryloxy-1-alkene products are formed in high enantiomeric purity (typically 90–98% ee) and useful yields (61–88%).