Role of the Benzyl Substituent in Binding of f‐Elements by Diglycolamides: A Combined Solvent Extraction, Spectroscopic, and X‐Ray Diffraction Study

ABSTRACT Two new diglycolamides bearing benzyl substituents on the amide moieties—N,N′‐dibutyl‐N,N′‐dibenzyldiglycolamide and N,N′‐dibenzyl‐N, N′‐diphenyldiglycolamide were synthesized. The extraction of f‐element cations and a number of associated metals by these compounds was also studied. A significant influence of the amide fragment structure on the extraction ability, selectivity, and composition of the extracted complexes was demonstrated. Conditions were found for the purification of An(III) and An(IV) from uranium and most fission products. The complex formation of f‐elements (using Nd) with the ligands under consideration was studied by spectrophotometric titration. A compound of neodymium nitrate with DBnDPhDGA, with the composition [Nd(DBnDPhDGA) 2 (H 2 O) 3 ](NO 3 ) 3 ·2C 2 H 5 OH, was isolated in crystalline form, and its structure was characterized by x‐ray diffraction.