Ketones have been proven effective in extracting astatine(III)
from aqueous solvents. Previous theoretical studies suggested a mechanism
where the “sp2” lone pair on the carbonyl
oxygen donates electron density into the π system of the AtO+ molecular cation to form a dative-type bond. In this study,
co-extraction of NO3
– as AtO(NO3)·(OCR1R2) species into the organic
phase appears to be a key factor. Adjusting the electronic properties
of the ketone, by having an aryl group instead of an alkyl group in
the alpha position of the ketone, increased the electron density on
CO, increased the bond strength between the ketone and AtO+, and in turn increased the extraction of 211At
into the organic phase. Extraction with diketones shows dependence
on the bridging distance between the two carbonyl moieties, where
a C3 or longer bridge results in a 10-fold increase in
extraction into the organic phase. DFT calculations show the longer
bridge allows for the chelation of AtO(NO3) by either the
second carbonyl or the phenyl ring.