Chelation and stabilization of berkelium in oxidation state +IV

What is it about?

This article deals with the chemistry of transplutonic elements: berkelium and californium. Read the full text here: http://rdcu.be/qWb0 (read-only link from Nature Springer publisher).

Featured Image

Why is it important?

In this article, we report the first example of a stable chelate of berkelium (element 97) in its +IV oxidation state. The complex formed between Bk(IV) and our bio-inspired chelator is also the first example of a luminescence berkelium species in aqueous solution. We also report the very first crystal structure of a protein containing californium atoms (element 98 - Cf3+). Finally, our findings allowed us to develop innovative methods for the separation of actinde and/or lanthanide elements.