Lastly, one cannot neglect that all trans-plutonium isotopes have high specific activities and that both their ionizing radiation and concomitant formation of radiolysis products will influence the longevity of certain oxidation states. For example, radiolysis products rapidly reduce Bk IV to Bk III , but instead oxidize Cf II I2 to Cf III OI via the stunning -particle induced abstraction of oxide from silica reaction vessels. The latter provides an excellent illustration of the energetic differences between nuclear and chemical reactions. Taken together, there are two hurdles to overcome to successfully isolate a Cf II complex. First, a reductant must be identified that is strong enough to reduce Cf III to Cf II but does not over reduce it to Cf 0 . Second, synthetic methodologies must be developed that allow for rapid complexation, reduction, and crystallization before radiolytic re-oxidation occurs. Herein, we show that Al/Hg amalgams can be used to achieve the proper reduction potential, and that crown ether ligands are appropriate for rapid crystallization of Cf II complexes.