March 2025 Metallurgy Blog
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March 20, 2025
Never-Before-Seen Organometallic Molecule Unveiled at Berkeley Lab
Never-Before-Seen Organometallic Molecule Unveiled at Berkeley Lab
Scientists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have achieved an extraordinary breakthrough by synthesizing "berkelocene," a never-before-seen organometallic molecule containing berkelium, an elusive and highly radioactive heavy element. This discovery ushers in a new chapter of understanding the behavior of actinides—elements nestled within the periodic table's f-block.
Organometallic compounds, characterized by metal ions bonded with carbon-based frameworks, are commonly observed in lighter actinides like uranium. However, such structures remain a rarity for elements like berkelium. The research team, armed with only 0.3 milligrams of the berkelium-249 isotope, overcame formidable challenges posed by its extreme reactivity and radioactivity. By designing specialized air-free gloveboxes, they successfully created a symmetrical molecule resembling a "sandwich" of carbon rings encasing a single berkelium atom.
Named "berkelocene," the molecule not only mirrors the structure of the uranium-based "uranocene" discovered decades ago but also defies conventional assumptions. Calculations revealed a surprisingly stable +4 oxidation state for the berkelium ion, challenging prior predictions of its chemical nature. Learn more about this topic here.
Organometallic compounds, characterized by metal ions bonded with carbon-based frameworks, are commonly observed in lighter actinides like uranium. However, such structures remain a rarity for elements like berkelium. The research team, armed with only 0.3 milligrams of the berkelium-249 isotope, overcame formidable challenges posed by its extreme reactivity and radioactivity. By designing specialized air-free gloveboxes, they successfully created a symmetrical molecule resembling a "sandwich" of carbon rings encasing a single berkelium atom.
Named "berkelocene," the molecule not only mirrors the structure of the uranium-based "uranocene" discovered decades ago but also defies conventional assumptions. Calculations revealed a surprisingly stable +4 oxidation state for the berkelium ion, challenging prior predictions of its chemical nature. Learn more about this topic here.
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