Acyclic and macrocyclic schiff base complexes of lanthanides and actinides

Abstract

The work reviewed here is the result of a collaborative project designed to explore the interaction of lanthanides and actinides with acyclic and macrocyclic Schiff base ligands. The ligands are penta- and hexa-dentate in character and have present arrays of donors drawn from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur atoms. The acyclic ligands are capable of allowing binuclear incorporation to occur; this feature was included in the study as is the area of selective metal extraction. A single ligand capable of removing two cations simultaneously would have cost benefit advantage over a ligand capable only of removing a single cation.