Americium(III) and europium(III) solvent extraction studies of amide-substituted triazine ligands and complexes formed with ytterbium(III)

4-Amino-bis(2,6-(2-pyridyl))-1,3,5-triazine L-4 and several, amide derivatives with hydrophobic alkyl substituents have been synthesised. Solvent extraction studies carried out on Am(III) and Eu(III) with L-4 and its amide derivatives in synergistic combination with alpha-bromodecanoic acid, show that these ligands can selectively extract actinides with respect to lanthanides. The structures of [H2L4].2Cl.2.5H(2)O and two amide derivatives have been determined and show respectively the trans, trans; cis, cis; and cis, trans conformations of the adjacent aromatic rings. These observed conformations are in agreement with the results of quantum mechanics calculations on L-4 and its protonated derivatives. The structures of two Yb complexes with amide derivatives are also reported with stoichiometry [Yb(L)(NO3)(H2O)(4)].2NO(3).0.5H(2)O and [Yb(L)(NO3)(3)(H2O)].2MeCN and show the metal in 9 coordinate environments.