5f-Element complexes with a p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene bearing phosphinoyl pendant arms: Separation from rare earths and structural studies

Phosphinoylated calixarenes feature high coordination ability toward f elements and a great potentiality toward actinide/rare earth separation. Here, we report three characteristic properties of a tetra-phosphinoylated p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, B4bL4 functionalized with phosphinoyl pendant arms: (i) its coordination ability toward Th(IV) complexation in organic medium, (ii) its ability to separate thorium from yttrium, lanthanum, and europium in three different organic media, and (iii) the X-ray crystal structure of the La complex. Thorium(IV) forms 1:1 and 1:2 (M:L) complexes with B4bL4: Th(NO3)4(B4bL4)n·xH2O (n = 1, x = 1, 1; n = 2, x = 4, 2). Spectroscopic data point to the inner coordination sphere of 1 and 2 containing nitrate ions and water molecules. Molecular modeling of 1 yielded an 8-coordinate species and its coordination polyhedron can be described as a distorted square antiprism while that for 2, a 9-coordinate species, as a distorted tricapped trigonal prism. The extraction study of tetravalent thorium and trivalent rare-earth (Y, La, Eu) ions from acidic nitrate media by B4bL4 in chloroform shows thorium being much more extracted than the rare earths, with selectivity close to 100%. The extraction behavior can be easily modulated by changing the initial conditions (pH, nitrate concentration). The X-ray structure of [LaB4bL4(H2O)5] CH3CN·(ClO4)3 points to the LaIII ion lying on a C4 axis and being 9-coordinated by the four O(P) atoms and five O atoms from water molecules. It is located in the middle of the void formed by the four O–CH2–PO(Me)2 pendant arms.

Graphical abstractThe figure shows on the middle top a tetra-phosphinoylated p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, on the left side the crystal structure of its lanthanum complex, on the right side the modeled structure of its 1:1 thorium complex and on the middle bottom its extraction behavior toward f elements and yttrium ions.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Few isolated actinide calixarene complexes have been reported. ► Thorium complexes with a tetra-phosphinoylated calix[4]arene (B4bL4) are presented. ► The crystal structure of a 1:1 La B4bL4 complex is reported for the first time. ► Its novelty is the –CH2– spacer between the phenolic oxygen and the (CH3)2PO groups. ► The calixarene is a good extractant for An/Ln separation from acidic nitrate media.