4-Phosphorylpyrazolones as receptor molecules for f-block elements

The similar chemical properties of f-block elements are still a challenging task in the separation of nuclear fuel waste material by hydrometallurgical methods. Extractants based on phosphorus (e.g. D2EHPA, PC88A, TBP) are typically used in industrial recovery processes.1, 2 Chelating agents, such as 4-acylpyrazolones received remarkable attention as extractants for rare earth elements.3 Our approach is to achieve suitable reagents for selective separation of lanthanides and actinides by implementing the phosphoryl group in the backbone of pyrazolones. This is the first publication on 4-phosphorylpyrazolones4, 5 with respect to their coordination behaviour towards f-block elements.