Complexation ability of octaazamacrocyclic ligand toward Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ metal cations: Experimental and theoretical study

The complexation reactions between octaazamacrocyclic ligand N,N′,N″,N′″-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (tpmc) and Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ metal cations have been studied conductometrically in acetonitrile and aqueous solutions. The conductance data exhibit different stoichiometry of the complexes in two studied solutions. In most cases 1:1 (ML) complexes were formed while in some cases 2:1 (M2L) complexes are evident. The stability constants of the resulting 1:1 complexes were determined by computer fitting of the conductance/mole ratio data. Theoretical DFT calculations were used to explain metal binding capability of tpmc ligand and the binding sequences were found to follow the order: Cu2+≫Ni2+>Co2+>Zn2+. The combination of results obtained by this theoretical approach and conductometric study successfully explains sensitivity and selectivity of recently developed tpmc based ISE and could play a guiding role in planning experiments with large macrocyclic ligands.