Conversion of Americia to Anhydrous Trivalent Americium Halides

Abstract

Anhydrous americium(III) starting materials were prepared from americia (AmO2) using inexpensive, commercially available reagents and mild reaction conditions. [AmCl(μ-Cl)2(THF)2]n (1-Am) and AmBr3(THF)4 (2-Am) were isolated and characterized by electronic absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. These new starting materials are soluble in organic solvents, making them useful synthons for nonaqueous organometallic americium chemistry.