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

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 (LaIII, NdIII, HoIII, YbIII, UVI, ThIV) 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.