The complexation of 1,4,7,10-tetrazacyclodecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) ligand with two trivalent actinides (Am and Pu) was investigated by UV-visible spectrophotometry, NMR spectroscopy, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure in conjunction with computational methods. The complexation process of these two cations is similar to what has been previously observed with lanthanides(III) of similar ionic radius. The complexation takes place in different steps and ends with the formation of a (1:1) complex [(An(III)DOTA)(HO)], where the cation is bonded to the nitrogen atoms of the ring, the four carboxylate arms, and a water molecule to complete the coordination sphere. The formation of An(III)-DOTA complexes is faster than the Ln(III)-DOTA systems of equivalent ionic radius. Furthermore, it is found that An-N distances are slightly shorter than Ln-N distances. Theoretical calculations showed that the slightly higher affinity of DOTA toward Am over Nd is correlated with slightly enhanced ligand-to-metal charge donation arising from oxygen and nitrogen atoms.

The 1,4,7,10‐tetrazacyclodecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid (DOTA) aqueous complex of UIV with H2O, OH−, and F− as axial ligands was studied by using UV/Vis spectrophotometry, ESI‐MS, NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography, and electrochemistry. The UIV–DOTA complex with either water or fluoride as axial ligands was found to be inert to oxidation by molecular oxygen, whereas the complex with hydroxide as an axial ligand slowly hydrolyzed and was oxidized by dioxygen to a diuranate precipitate. The combined data set acquired shows that, although axial substitution of fluoride and hydroxide ligands instead of water does not seem to significantly change the aqueous DOTA complex structure, it has an important effect on the electronic configuration of the complex. The UIV/UIII redox couple was found to be quasi‐reversible for the complex with both axially bonded H2O and hydroxide, but irreversible for the complex with axially bonded fluoride. Intriguingly, binding of the axial fluoride renders the irreversible one‐electron UV/UIV oxidation of the [UIV(DOTA)(H2O)] complex quasi‐reversible, which suggests the formation of the short‐lived pentavalent form of the complex, an aqueous non‐uranyl chelated UV cation.

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