Protactinium pentahalides

Protactinium metal was first prepared in 1934 by thermal decomposition of a pentahalide on a hot filament 50). It has since been prepared from PaF4 by metallothermic reduction (Section II,A) with barium 26, 27, 34,102), lithium 40), and calcium 73, 74). However, the highest purity metal is achieved using the iodide transport (van Arkel-De Boer) process (Section II,D). 

The only recorded complexes appear to be the protactinium(V) compounds, Pa(Et2NCS2)4X (X = Cl, Br), prepared by treating a suspension of the pentahalide in dichloromethane with an excess of Na(Et2NCS2), followed by vacuum evaporation of the filtrate. 

The compounds known are summarized in Table 10.1. The only compound of an early actinide in the -1-2 state is Thl2, a metallic conductor which is probably Th + (e )2 (D)2-Certain heavier actinides form MX2 (Am, Cf, Es), which usually have the structure of the corresponding EuX2 and are thus genuine M + compounds. All four trihalides exist for all the actinides as far as Es, except for thorium and protactinium. Tetrafluorides exist for Th-Cm and the other tetrahalides as far as NpX4 (and in the gas phase in the case of PuCE). Pentahalides are only known for Pa, U, and Np whilst there are a few MFe (M = U-Pu), uranium is the only actinide to form a hexachloride. The known actinide halides are generally stable compounds most are soluble in (and hydrolysed by) water. 

Actinide halides and oxyhalides are known to form numerous complexes with oxygen and nitrogen donor ligands and the preparation and properties of such compounds have recently been reviewed (12, 13). Relatively few protactinium halide complexes are known, but this situation reflects the lack of research rather than a tendency not to form complexes. However, there is sufficient information available for certain ligands to permit a comparison with the behavior of other actinide halides, and to illustrate the similarities and differences observed with the tetrahalides of thorium to plutonium inclusive and, to a lesser extent, with the protactinium and uranium pentahalides. 

Protactinium pentachloride (42) and pentabromide (43) form both 1 1 and 1 2 complexes with phosphine oxides, the former being analogous to those formed by niobium, tantalum, and uranium pentahalides (26, 42, 43). Unlike niobium and tantalum pentachloride (42, 64) however, they do not react with excess triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) to form... 

A. A -Dimethylacetamide (DMA) forms a 1 3 complex with protactinium pentabromide (23), but its reaction with other pentahalides has not been studied. 

Even fewer complexes with nitrogen donor ligands have been reported and all are methyl cyanide adducts (Tables X and XI). Protactinium pentabromide forms a soluble 1 3 complex in contrast to the 1 1 complexes formed by niobium and tantalum pentahalides (46). Other actinide pentahalide-methyl cyanide complexes are still unknown. Protactinium tetrachloride, tetrabromide, and tetraiodide react with anhydrous, oxygen-free methyl cyanide to form slightly soluble 1 4 complexes (44, 48) which are isostructural with their actinide tetrahalide analogs. 

Attempts to prepare protactinium pentanitrate by reacting penta-halides with liquid dinotrogen pentoxide have resulted in the formation of HPalNOglfl, possibly as a result of traces of anhydrous nitric acid present in the N Os 49). The presence of the jiroton has not been confirmed by electron spin resonance studies, but infrared results have shown that all the nitrate is covalently bound and vibrations associated with the nitronium and nitrosonium cations were not observed. Niobium and tantalum pentahalides react under similar conditions to form the anhydrous oxytrinitrates, M 0(N0g)3 20, 87). 

Protactinium monocarbide was prepared by carbothermic reduction of the pent-oxide and treated with iodine (400 C), bromine (350 C), and thionyl chloride (200°C) in evacuated sealed tubes to give the appropriate pentahalide. The tetraiodide was obtained by interaction of the monocarbide with either protactinum pentaiodide (600 °C) or mercury(ii) iodide (500 °C) in vacuo. 

Earlier laboratory processes used to prepare metallic protactinium include vacuum decomposition of the oxide by 35-keV electrons [G6] and thermal decomposition of the pentahalides [G2]. More recently, protactinium has been prepared by reducing the tetrafluoride by barium vapor [CS, S3, Zl], by calcium at 1250°C [M2] and by zinc-magnesium. The purest protactinium has been prepared by reduction in a barium-fluoride crucible at 1300°C [L2]. 

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