Metal complexes with macrocyclic ligands. Part XXXVI. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of bivalent and trivalent metal ions with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid

NMR, potentiometric, and UV/VIS measurements were run to study the protonation and the In3+ and Cu2+ stability constants of 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7‐triacetic acid (do3a, L). The protonation of do3a follows the typical scheme with two high and several low log KH values. Between pH 11 and 13, the protonation mainly occurs at the N‐atom, which is not substituted by an acetate side chain. The In3+ complex is not appreciably protonated even at low pH values (pH ⋐ 1.7), whereas [CuL] can add up to three protons in acidic solution to give the species [CuLH], [CuLH2], and [CuLH3], the stability of which was determined. The formation rates of the Y3+, Gd3+, Ga3+, and In3+ complexes with do3a were measured using a pH‐stat technique, whereas that of Cu2+, being faster, was followed on a stopped‐flow spectrophotometer. In all cases, the reaction scheme implies the rapid formation of partially protonated intermediates, which rearrange themselves to the final product in the rate‐determining process. ([MLH])in, an intermediate, in which the metal ion probably is coordinated by two amino acetate groups, proved to be the reactive species for Y3+, Gd3+, and Ga3+. The formation of [Cu(do3a)] was interpreted by postulating that either ([CuLH])in or ([CuLH])in, and ([CuLH2])in are the reactive complexes. The rates of dissociation of the Y3+, Gd3+, and Cu2+ complexes with do3a were studied spectrophotometrically. For Y3+ and Gd3+, arsenazo III was used as a scavenger, whereas for Cu2+ the absorption associated with d‐d* transition was followed. For [Y(do3a)] and [Gd(do3a)], the rate law follows the kinetic expression kobsd  k0 + k1[H+]. The dissociation of [Cu(do3a)] goes through the proton‐independent dissociation of [CuLH3], which is the main species at low pH.