The single-crystal structure of the hydrophobic actinide extractant di(p-tert-butylphenyl)-N,N-di-(isobutyl)carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO, 1) has been determined, as has that of its 1 : 1 chelate complex with uranyl nitrate (2), its 1 : 1 monodentate complexes with Ph 3 SnCl (3) and Me 2 SnCl 2 (4) bonding via the P O group. A 1 : 1 bidentate complex with Ph 2 SnCl 2 bonding via both P O and C O functionalities (5) was obtained which in solution exhibits a C O → Sn bond dissociation to exist as the monodentate isomer coordinating only through the P O group.