Synthesis and X-ray diffraction study of new uranyl malonate and oxalate complexes with carbamide

Abstract

Two new malonate-containing uranyl complexes with carbamide of the formulas [UO₂(C₃H₂O₄)(Urea)₂] (I) and [UO₂(C₃H₂O₄)(Urea)₃] (II), where Urea is carbamide, and one uranyl oxalate complex of the formula [UO₂(C₂O₄)(Urea)₃] (III) were synthesized, and their crystals were studied by X-ray diffraction. The main structural units in crystals I are the electroneutral chains [UO₂(C₃H₂O₄)(Urea)₂]_∞ belonging to the crystal-chemical group AT¹¹M₂¹ (A = UO₂²⁺, T¹¹ = C₃H₂O₄^2-, M¹ = Urea) of uranyl complexes. Crystals II and III are composed of the molecular complexes [UO₂(L)(Urea)₃], where L = C₃H₂O₄^2- or C₂O₄^2-, belonging to the crystal-chemical group AB⁰¹M₃¹ (A = UO₂²⁺, B⁰¹ = C₃H₂O₄^2- or C₂O₄^2-, M¹ = Urea). The characteristic features of the packing of the uranium-containing complexes are discussed in terms of molecular Voronoi–Dirichlet polyhedra. The effect of the Urea: U ratio on the structure of uranium-containing structural units is considered.