Molecular and Crystal Structures of Uranyl Nitrate Coordination Polymers with Double-headed 2-Pyrrolidone Derivatives

Double-headed 2-pyrrolidone derivatives (DHNRP) were designed and synthesized as bridging ligands for efficient and selective separation of UO22+ from HNO3 solution by precipitation. The building blocks, UO2(NO3)2 and DHNRP, were successfully connected to form an infinite 1D coordination polymer. Solubility of [UO2(NO3)2(DHNRP)]n is no longer correlated to hydrophobicity of the ligand, but is exclusively governed by ligand symmetry and packing efficiency. The newly designed DHNRP family can be used to establish a new spent nuclear fuel reprocessing scheme.