Microwave-Assisted Acylation of Hydroxybenzil Derivatives: A Synthetic Approach toward Acyloxy Bis-1,2,4-triazinyl-2,6-pyridine Complexants and Application to Minor Actinide Extraction

Complexant-derived extraction of the minor actinides from lanthanides contained within spent nuclear fuel can assist with closing the nuclear fuel cycle and further strengthening nuclear fission's position as a noncarbon energy source. A method to prepare bisacyloxy benzils leveraging microwave-assisted organic synthesis provided access to 11 not previously-reported bis-1,2,4-triazinyl-2,6-pyridine (BTP) complexants. Definition of the limits of acylation of 2,2'-, 3,3'-, and 4,4'-dihydroxybenzils, the condensation of acylated materials toward a new class of BTP complexants, and preliminary performance data for extraction of the minor An extraction ²⁴¹Am³⁺ and Ln ^154-152Eu³⁺ are disseminated herein.