A comparative electrochemical study of thorium(IV) and uranium(IV) acetylacetonates

Abstract

The electrochemical behaviour of the Thorium(IV) and Uranium(IV) acetylacetonates [Th(acac)₄] and [U(acac)₄](acac = acetylacetonate ion) has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry in tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile. The complexes are reduced in two one-electron steps. The first electron uptake leads to the [M^III(acac)₄]^–(M = Th or U) ion, which slowly loses an acetylacetonate ion acac^–, with formation of [M^III(acac)₃]. The second step is more complex and is due to the reduction of [M^III(acac)₄]^– and/or acac^–.