Interaction of AnVI with Isothiocyanate Ion in Water‐Organic Media (An = U, Np, Pu)

Abstract

Behavior of UVI, NpVI and PuVI in water‐acetonitrile solutions was studied spectrophotometrically with the successive addition of the polar organic ligands (dimethyl sulfoxide or hexamethylphosphoric triamide) and the NCS– ion. The detected spectral effects – changes in the absorption intensity, bathochromic shifts in the absorption bands, the absence of isosbestic points, a change in the color of the solution – indicate complex competitive processes occurring in the studied solutions. In the case of NpVI, its partial reduction to NpIV by NCS– ion is observed. Solid UVI complex, [UO2(HMPA)2(NCS)2], was isolated, its crystal structure was determined using X‐ray diffraction. In contrast to known AnO22+ compounds with the NCS– ion, this complex exhibits tetragonal bipyramidal environment of the U atom. [UO2(HMPA)2(NCS)2] is also characterized by UV/Vis, IR and luminescence spectroscopy.