Industrial acidic phosphorus ligands

The sections below review the coordination chemistry of the most important classes of extractants used commercially. Particular attention is paid to the importance of secondary bonding between extractant components. This facilitates the assembly of ligating packages which match the coordination requirements of particular metal cations or their complexes and enhances both the selectivity and strength of extraction. Flydrogen bonding between ligands—e.g., esters of phosphorus(V) acids (see Section 9.17.4.3)—is particularly prevalent in the hydrocarbon solvents commonly used in industrial processes. 

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