Solvation of UCl6(2-) anionic complex by MeBu3N(+), BuMe2Im(+), and BuMeIm(+) cations

The complexes [MeBu 3N] 2[UCl 6] and [BuMe 2Im] 2[UCl 6] were characterized in the solid state and in solution of [MeBu 3N][Tf 2N], [BuMe 2Im][Tf 2N], and [BuMeIm][Tf 2N] room-temperature ionic liquids using single-crystal XRD, EXAFS, electrochemistry, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and NMR. In the solid state and in solution, the existence of hydrogen bonding between the UCl 6 (2-) complex and the ionic liquid cations was revealed by these techniques. The MeBu 3N (+) cation interacts with UCl 6 (2-) via the protons on the alpha-carbon atoms of nitrogen. The protons of the imidazolium ring account for the interaction between the BuMe 2Im (+) cation and the UCl 6 (2-) anion. For the BuMeIm (+) cation the major interaction was confirmed between the most acidic proton on C(2) and the chlorides of UCl 6 (2-). The experimental results also show that the intensity of the interaction between the UCl 6 (2-) anion and the cation varies with the ionic liquid cation in the following order: MeBu 3N (+) approximately BuMe 2Im (+) << BuMeIm (+).