α- and β-diphenylphosphorylated secondary alkanols: I. general method of synthesis and extraction properties towards f-elements

Abstract

A simple and effective general method of synthesis of α- and β-diphenylphosphorylated secondary alkanols by the reduction of the corresponding phosphorylalkanones with NaBH4 was developed. The extraction properties of the resulting phosphorylalkanols Ph₂P(O)(CR₂)_nCH₂CH(OH)Me (n = 0, 1; R = H, Me) were studied in the recovery of f-elements (La^III, Nd^III, Ho^III, Yb^III, U^VI, Th^IV) from nitric acid solutions into chloroform and compared with those of both related phosphorylketones and known extractants (n-BuO)₃PO, (n-C₈H₁₇)₃PO, and Ph₂P(O)CH₂C(O)N(n-Bu)₂.