Covalency of M–N Bonds in Isomorphous Lanthanide and Actinide 5-(2-Pyridyl)-1H-tetrazolate Complexes Experimental and computational analyses of [M(pdtz)3(H2O)3]·3.5H2O (M3+ = Pu3+–Cm3+, La3+–Nd3+, and Sm3+–Ho3+, pdtz– = 5-(2-pyridyl)-1H-tetrazolate) were conducted to understand potential differences ...

Really happy with Bai's newest paper on unexpected bonding trends in #plutonium, #americium, and #curium coordination complexes.

Covalency of M–N Bonds in Isomorphous Lanthanide and Actinide 5-(2-Pyridyl)-1H-tetrazolate Complexes | JACS Au pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

P4 REDUCTION generally results in multi-nuclear Zintl anions: P8(2-), P4(2-) or P7(3-). Reaction with a soluble Mg(0) complex gave full reduction to P(3-). Latter anion serves as a triple base, a three-fold nucleophile or 3e-reducing agent. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.10

Non–linear bonding trends in maleonitrile-1,2–dithiolate complexes of the transuranium actinides - Nature Communications Although the trivalent actinides are similar to the lanthanide series in terms of chemistry and bonding, their structures and properties can diverge significantly. Here, the authors report a series of...

Super happy to see Nick's article published. #actinides #chemsky #transuranium #nuclear #californium
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Nobelium becomes heaviest element with identified compounds Complexes containing hydroxide, water and dinitrogen ligands detected as researchers probe chemistry on the edge of the actinide series

Complexes containing nobelium were created as part of new research into the chemistry of the actinide series.

Molecular complexes of low-valent f-elements from lanthanum to californium This review outlines the structure and chemistry of divalent lanthanides and actinides in small molecule systems, focusing on the less accessible diva…

@hbwineinger.bsky.social wrote this review for those interested in low valent f elements #fblockrocks www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

U4+ Speciation in Acidic Aqueous Solution: Insights from UV–Vis, EXAFS, XANES, and Quantum-Statistical Simulations This theoretical study investigates the UV–vis absorption properties of U4+-containing aqueous solutions and their relationship with the nature of aqua-complexes present at varying acidic levels. High...

doi.org/10.1021/acs....
Unravelling UV–vis spectra of U4+-containing aqueous solutions and their relationship with the nature of complexes present at different pH levels. Selected as Featured article in Inorg. Chem. and a cornerstone of
@gemarh.bsky.social PhD at @unisevilla.bsky.social

Effects of the Inverse Trans-Influence in a Berkelium(III) Phosphine Oxide Complex An example of a 249Bk3+ phosphine oxide complex has been prepared to examine and quantify the effects of the inverse trans-influence (ITI) on a late actinide complex. This has been accomplished through a comparison of cis and trans Bk-ligand bonds in the meridional berkelium(III) complex, BkBr3(OPCy3)3 (OPCy3 = tricyclohexylphosphine oxide). A detailed bond metric analysis was completed that includes the shortest published distance for a Bk3+–O bond, attributed to the smaller coordination number of Bk3+ of six in mer-BkBr3(OPCy3)3. ITI calculations of the trans Bk3+–O bond provide an ITI value (98.5(2)%) comparable to that of mer-AmBr3(OPCy3)3 (98.2(2)%) and indicate a small 5f orbital contribution to bonding. This effect is discussed in the context of the isomorphous lanthanide(III) series where the ITI is calculated to be higher for mer-BkBr3(OPCy3)3 than in most Ln3+ analogues.

249Bk (t1/2 ~330 days) is a beta blasting bully, but sometimes things work out #fblockrocks #bkallday @teasactinides.bsky.social pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

A new water stable carbene validates a hypothesis put forward almost 70 years ago by the famed organic chemist Ronald Breslow.
www.chemistryworld.com/news/super-s...

Yep

Unveiling the covalency of versatile Pu(iii)-N bonds in a unique plutonium(iii) complex A trivalent plutonium–pyrazinyl–tetrazolate complex Na2[Pu(Hdtp)(dtp)2(H2O)4]·9H2O (Pu_dtp, H2dtp = 2,3-di-1H-tetrazol-5-ylpyrazine) was synthesized through metathesis reaction of plutonium bromide an...

Plutonium chemistry is wack and this compound is another reason to provide evidence towards that #fblockrocks @teasactinides.bsky.social
pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

Porphyrin-based organic materials have exciting optical properties and wide applications. In this study, the authors report a B(III) complex of a new sub-m-benziporphyrin with an unusual planar tridentate 14π-aromatic network.

Read it for free 👉pubs.rsc.org/doi/D4S...

#ChemSky

Congratulations!!!

Praseodymium in the formal +5 oxidation state Nature Chemistry - The most common oxidation state for lanthanide elements is +3, and, beyond cerium, examples of these elements exhibiting higher oxidation states remain scarce. Now, a molecular...

We are excited to share praseodymium 5+! Finally in print!
A new PR for Pr!

rdcu.be/egHf6

Carbon–boron triple bond formed for the first time in a neutral novel molecule Synthesis could help chemists better understand bonding

Researchers have synthesised a triple bond between carbon and boron for the first time, in a discovery that could inspire other researchers to synthesise compounds that might seem improbable.

Insights into the Complexation of Actinides by Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid from Characterization of the Americium(III) Complex Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) is a frequently used chelator in the nuclear and medical industries, especially for the complexation of trivalent actinides. However, structural data on these complexes in the solid-state have long remained elusive. Herein, a detailed structural analysis of the presented crystal structures of [C(NH2)3]4[Nd(DTPA)]2·nH2O and [C(NH2)3]4[Am(DTPA)]2·nH2O, where [C(NH2)3]+ is guanidinium, details the subtle differences in the Lewis acidity between a lanthanide/actinide pair of similar ionic sizes. Contractions in nitrogen–metal bond lengths between neodymium(III) and americium(III) were observed, while the metal–oxygen bonds remained relatively consistent, highlighting the marginal favorability for actinide complexation over the lanthanides with moderately soft N-donors. Spectroscopic analysis shows significant splitting of many transitions and relatively strong electronic interactions with traditionally low-intensity transitions in the americium complex, as is demonstrated in the 7F0→7F5 transitions. Pressure-induced spectroscopic analysis showed surprisingly little effect on the americium complex, with 5f→5f transitions either not shifting or marginally shifting from 2 to 3 nm at 11.93 ± 0.06 GPa─atypical of a soft, N-donor americium complex under pressure. Large voids occupied by water molecules in between the complexes within the crystal structure may be responsible for the lack of pressure response in the 5f→5f transitions.

This is a heavy hitting americium structure great job brian! @teasactinides.bsky.social pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

That’s brave chemistry.

This vial holds a few drops of a solution of berkelocene, which delivered tiny indigo crystals of the new complex.

It is a sandwich with the rarest of fillings. Researchers have unveiled berkelocene, a compound containing the synthetic element berkelium nestled neatly between two ring-shaped molecules. cen.acs.org/analytical-c... #chemsky🧪

That’s really cool!

PREFORMED REDOX-ACTIVE INVERSE CROWNS: Finally out in @naturechemistry.bsky.social Highly selective reduction of N2O, epoxide, sulfur or O2. The ring can also be extended to a larger metalla-crown for stabilization of larger anions like N2O2(2-). Open access: shorturl.at/LZE6Y

I’ll never get used to this. From left to right: John Wagner, Director of Idaho National Laboratory. Katy Huff, former assistant secretary for nuclear energy. Some random guy they grabbed off a hiking trail. Rita Baranwal, VP at Westinghouse #AAAS #nuclear #fblockrocks #ChemSky

Measuring the elusive half-life of samarium-146 The isotope is critical for understanding Earth’s origins. An accurate half-life is key—and researchers may have finally measured it

The samarium-146 isotope is critical for understanding Earth’s origins. An accurate half-life is key—and researchers may have finally measured it. cen.acs.org/physical-che...

My dad did his postdoc with Enders.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s panel.

Yay Markus!!! I miss him.

A periodic table with each of the heaviest 26 elements shaded by color according to which country or collaboration of countries discovered that element. US facilities have independently discovered 14, Russian facilities have independently discovered 4, German facilities have discovered six, Japanese facilities have discovered one, and a US-Russia collaboration discovered the five heaviest. Four of the US and Russia’s independent element discoveries happened in parallel.

The periodic table looks complete, but it isn’t. The race is on to discover the table’s next row of elements, starting with elements 119 and 120. Japan hopes to produce element 119 one atom at a time: cen.acs.org/physical-che...

#NationalPeriodicTableDay #chemsky🧪 #scinews

I love these kind of papers. They make me smile for days.

High-Pressure Effects on an Octa-Hydrated Curium Complex: An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation An octa-hydrated curium compound [Cm(H2O)8](Hdtp)(dtp)·H2O (Cm1, H2dtp = 2,3-di(tetrazol-5-yl)pyrazine) along with its lanthanide analogues [Ln(H2O)8](Hdtp)(dtp)·H2O (Ln1, Ln3+ = La3+–Nd3+, Sm3+–Lu3+)...

I am super proud of this paper. It was a massive, multi-year undertaking by three different groups. If you've ever wanted to understand the high-pressure behavior of curium, here it is. @gagliardilaura.bsky.social #fblockrocks #nuclear #chemsky #bluesci #highpressure
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

As we move to higher pressures centering samples by hand in diamond anvil cells is no longer possible. Meet our new micromanipulator. The hole on the screen is only 70 microns in diameter. #chemsky #bluesci #fblockrocks #highpressure #nuclear

INL

You're looking through a massively shielded window into the world's largest inert atmosphere hot cell where a closed fuel cycle was demonstrated for EBR-II. Even cooler is that the thing that looks like a scrub brush in the bottom right is the cathode from the process covered in uranium dendrimers.