Utilizing electronic effects in the modulation of BTPhen ligands with respect to the partitioning of minor actinides from lanthanides.

Effects of bromine substitution at the 5 and 5,6-positions of the 1,10-phenanthroline nucleus of BTPhen ligand on their extraction properties for Ln(III) and An(III) cations have been studied. Compared to C5-BTPhen, electronic modulation in BrC5-BTPhen and Br2C5-BTPhen enabled these ligands to be fine-tuned in order to enhance the separation selectivity of Am(III) from Eu(III).