Abstract
Polyphosphane polyoxides with (O)PCP(O) linkages are powerful chelating agents for extraction of actinides from nuclear wastes. They are obtained either by the Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction of chloromethylphosphane oxides and phosphorus(III) esters, or by the reaction of phosphane oxide carbanions with chlorophosphanes. With the latter method, the addition of a phosphane oxide carbanion in excess allowed us to overcome a transmetallation reaction and thereby obtain polyphosphane polyoxides in good yields. The 1H-NMR spectra of the PCH2P groups show the influence of the different R groups attached to the phosphorus atoms. We determined the coupling constants and the chemical shifts of these spin systems.