TL;DR: This study explores fundamental principles of thorium chemistry, demonstrating remarkable stability in Th-based metal-organic frameworks, and contrasts their reactivity with discrete systems, highlighting their potential for nuclear applications and future actinide chemistry advancements.
Abstract: The fundamental interest in actinide chemistry, particularly
for
the development of thorium-based materials, is experiencing a renaissance
owing to the recent and rapidly growing attention to fuel cycle reactors,
radiological daughters for nuclear medicine, and efficient nuclear
stockpile development. Herein, we uncover fundamental principles of
thorium chemistry on the example of Th-based extended structures such
as metal–organic frameworks in comparison with the discrete
systems and zirconium extended analogs, demonstrating remarkable over
two-and-half-year chemical stability of Th-based frameworks as a function
of metal node connectivity, amount of defects, and conformational
linker rigidity through comprehensive spectroscopic and crystallographic
analysis as well as theoretical modeling. Despite exceptional chemical
stability, we report the first example of studies focusing on the
reactivity of the most chemically stable Th-based frameworks in comparison
with the discrete Th-based systems such as metal–organic complexes
and a cage, contrasting multicycle recyclability and selectivity (>97%)
of the extended structures in comparison with the molecular compounds.
Overall, the presented work not only establishes the conceptual foundation
for evaluating the capabilities of Th-based materials but also represents
a milestone for their multifaceted future and foreshadows their potential
to shape the next era of actinide chemistry.