Photoluminescence and raman studies of curium and americium complexes of 6-methyl 2-(2-pyridyl)-benzimidazole: evidence for an efficient intramolecular energy transfer.

The 6-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)-benzimidazole (biz) ligand coordinates with the actinide species in solution, and the complexes display efficient intramolecular energy-transfer processes. The energy transfer in the Cm(III)-biz system proceeds in a nonradiative mode, whereas a radiative mode is the principal mechanism in the Am(III)-biz system.

EXAFS studies of americium (III)-benzimidazole complex in ethanol.

The local structures of Am, Nd and Er-Benzimidazole (Biz) in solution were determined by EXAFS. The BIZ molecule coordinated to Am and Nd through two nitrogen atoms in a bidentate fashion. Two nitrogen atoms of BIZ ligated to Am and Nd with the bond distances R(Am-n) N=2.63A and R(Nd-N) = 2.65 A, respectively. The total coordination number of the Am BIZ complexes (at a molar ratio of metal ion to ligand of 1:20) was approximately 10 but that of Nd BIZ complex was approximately 9.

Structural studies of lanthanide (III) complexes with oxydiacetic acid and iminodiacetic acid in aqueous solution by EXAFS.

The local structure of the trivalent lanthanide (Ln(III)) complexes with oxydiacetic acid (ODA) and iminodiacetic acid (IDA) in aqueous solution was investigated by EXAFS spectroscopy. The coordination number and the bond distance were obtained by the detailed EXAFS analysis. The coordination number of Ln(III) in both the Ln-ODA and -IDA systems decreases from nine for lighter Ln(III) to eight for heavier Ln(III). The bond distances of ether O atoms from Ln(III) in the Ln(ODA)(3)3- complexes are shorter than those of N atoms in the Ln(IDA)(3)3- ones.