f-Element coordination and extraction selectivity of a carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide ligand based on a tripodal phosphine oxide scaffold

A tripodal CMPO ligand has been prepared and characterized by NMR, MS and X-ray crystallography. This ligand’s ability to complex Ln3+ ions as well as Th4+ and UO22+ has been studied in the solid state, in solution, and in silico. This ligand is able to sensitize the luminescence of Tb3+ and Eu3+, and extracts Th(NO3)4 and UO2(NO3)2 out of acidic aqueous solution (5M HNO3) with greater than 95% extraction efficiency.