Final Technical Report for “Uranyl Capture and Activation with Lewis Acids and Macrocyclic Hosts”

Summary

The University of Kansas completed a 6-year project (2018-2024) to develop chemical and electrochemical approaches for studying redox-active molecular actinide complexes, particularly uranyl (AnO2n+) motifs. The project yielded 16 publications and demonstrated significant advancements in controlling actinide reactivity. Key findings include the ability to modulate the U(VI)/U(V) reduction potential in heterobimetallic complexes over a 600 mV range with a sensitivity of 61±9 mV/pKa unit, and the stabilization of the U(V) oxidation state at a notably positive potential of –0.18 V vs. Fc+/0 using a tailored macrocyclic ligand. Researchers also developed a modular synthetic route for new neptunyl(VI) and plutonyl(VI) diacetate starting materials and characterized a 1e−, chemically reversible Np(VI)/Np(V) redox couple in non-aqueous solutions.

Key Facts

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