High Yield, One-Pot Syntheses of Symmetrical Diaryl-N,N-Dialkyl Carbamoylmethylphosphine Oxide (CMPO) Ligands

Abstract

A simple one-pot high yield (˜70%) process is reported for the synthesis, in ˜100 g amounts, of a series of symmetrical diaryl-N,N-di-i-butylcarbamoylphosphine oxide (CMPO) actinide extractants, aryl = 4-t-butylphenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl and 2,4,6-tri-i-propylphenyl.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments to Keith Fife for support of this work as part of LANL's response to DNFSB Recommendation 94-1 (Vault Workoff) and Pu Disposition. A large number of people have supported this work with efforts both large and small: Gordon Jarvinen, Steve Yarbro, Larry Avens, Mark Dinehart, Benjie Martinez, Brenda Griego, Vance Hatler and Wayne Smyth. Thanks also to E. Phillip Horwitz of Argonne National Laboratory and EIChrom® Industries for helpful discussions. K. H. P and R. A. B. thank the Amarillo National Resource Center for Plutonium for partial support of this work; P. G. and K. H . P. thank the NIH-MARC Program for support.