Rita Delgado

Metal complexes of cyclic tetra-azatetra-acetic acids

The cyclic tetra-aza complexones cDOTA ([12]ane N(4).4ac), cTRITA ([13]ane N(4).4ac) and cTETA ([14]ane N(4).4ac) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, titration, melting-point determination and NMR (and infrared) spectroscopy. The ionization constants and the stability constants of the MH(2)L, MHL and ML complexes formed with alkali, alkaline-earth and some transition metals were determined at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees and ionic strength 0.10M [KNO(3) and (CH(3))(4)NNO(3)]. It was confirmed that cDOTA forms the most stable Ca(2+) and Sr(2+) complexes but the reported inversion of the order of stability of the complexes of these two ions with cTRITA was not confirmed. Also, the values of the stability constants determined in this work differ substantially from those previously reported for ML species. cDOTA is an interesting alternative to classical non-cyclic complex-ones for the complexometric determination of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) but neither this ligand nor the other two offer advantages over EDTA or DCTA for the complexometric titration of transition metals.

The stability of the metal complexes of cyclic tetra-aza tetra-acetic acids

The stability constants of the complexes formed by three tetra-aza macrocyclic complexones (DOTA, TRITA and TETA) with Mn(2+), Fe(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) were determined with an automated titration instrument with data acquisition and the calculations were performed with the Superquad program, confirming and extending the range of values previously available. Both 1:1 and 2:1 metal-to-ligand complexes were now considered including their protonated species. The results show that DOTA is a powerful but unselective ligand whereas TETA, although not so powerful as DOTA, is an interesting selective ligand for pairs of metal ions, e.g., Cd(2+) and Pb(2+).

Dissociation constants of Br∅nsted acids in D2O and H2O: studies on polyaza and polyoxa-polyaza macrocycles and a general correlation

Abstract Using data on a series of polyaza and polyoxa-polyaza macrocyclic compounds, a satisfactory linear correlation was established between the dissociation constants of their acid forms obtained in deuterium oxide (p K D ) and in water (p K H ). The isotopic effect, Δp K =p K D - p K H , increases with increasing p K , being larger for the weaker acids. The p K D vs. p K H correlation may be used to determine p K D or p K H values when one of the constants is known; the statistical errors of the estimates are not significatively higher than those of the experimental determinations. By including data available in the literature for a series of different acids (mineral and carboxylic acids, phenols, protonated amines, amino acids, etc.; a total of 138 pairs of data for 70 different compounds), a good general p K D vs. p K H correlation was also obtained (correlation coefficient 0.998), showing that the dependence of the isotopic effect on the nature of the acid is not as important as previous studies, based on limited and not always satisfactory Δp k vs. p K H correlations, suggested.

Polyaza Cryptand Receptor Selective for Dihydrogen Phosphate

A hexaamine cage with pyridyl spacers was synthesized in good yield by a [2+3] Schiff-base condensation followed by sodium borohydride reduction. The protonation constants of the receptor as well as its association constants with Cl(-), NO(3)(-), AcO(-), ClO(4)(-), SO(4)(2-), H(2)PO(4)(-), and H(2)AsO(4)(-) were determined by potentiometry at 298.2 +/- 0.1 K in H(2)O/MeOH (50:50 v/v) and at ionic strength 0.10 +/- 0.01 M in KTsO. These studies revealed that although dihydrogen phosphate is less charged than sulfate, it is still appreciably bound by the receptor at low pH, suggesting that the pyridyl nitrogen is accepting hydrogen bonds from dihydrogen phosphate. It is also shown that dihydrogen phosphate is capable of effectively competing with sulfate for the receptor at higher pH, being selective for hydrogen phosphate at pH about 7.0. (31)P NMR experiments supported these findings. The fact that the receptor shows such a marked preference for hydrogen phosphate based mainly in its hydrogen bond accepting/donating ability in a highly competitive medium such as water/methanol mixed solvent is quite remarkable. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction determinations of anion associations between H(6)pyr(6+) receptor and nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate are consistent with the existence of [(H(6)pyr)(NO(3))(3)(H(2)O)(3)](3+), [(H(6)pyr)(SO(4))(2)(H(2)O)(4)](2+), and [(H(6)pyr)(HPO(4))(2)(H(2)PO(4))(H(2)O)(2)](+) cations. One nitrate anion is embedded into the H(6)pyr(6+) cage of the first supermolecule whereas in the second and third ones the anions are located in the periphery of the macrobicycle.

Monopicolinate cyclen and cyclam derivatives for stable copper(II) complexation.

The syntheses of a new 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) derivative bearing a picolinate pendant arm (HL1), and its 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) analogue HL2, were achieved by using two different selective-protection methods involving the preparation of cyclen-bisaminal or phosphoryl cyclam derivatives. The acid-base properties of both compounds were investigated as well as their coordination chemistry, especially with Cu(2+), in aqueous solution and in solid state. The copper(II) complexes were synthesized, and the single crystal X-ray diffraction structures of compounds of formula [Cu(HL)](ClO(4))(2)·H(2)O (L = L1 or L2), [CuL1](ClO(4)) and [CuL2]Cl·2H(2)O, were determined. These studies revealed that protonation of the complexes occurs on the carboxylate group of the picolinate moiety. Stability constants of the complexes were determined at 25.0 °C and ionic strength 0.10 M in KNO(3) using potentiometric titrations. Both ligands form complexes with Cu(2+) that are thermodynamically very stable. Additionally, both HL1 and HL2 exhibit an important selectivity for Cu(2+) over Zn(2+). The kinetic inertness in acidic medium of both complexes of Cu(2+) was evaluated by spectrophotometry revealing that [CuL2](+) is much more inert than [CuL1](+). The determined half-life values also demonstrate the very high kinetic inertness of [CuL2](+) when compared to a list of copper(II) complexes of other macrocyclic ligands. The coordination geometry of the copper center in the complexes was established in aqueous solution from UV-visible and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, showing that the solution structures of both complexes are in excellent agreement with those of crystallographic data. Cyclic voltammetry experiments point to a good stability of the complexes with respect to metal ion dissociation upon reduction of the metal ion to Cu(+) at about neutral pH. Our results revealed that the cyclam-based ligand HL2 is a very attractive receptor for copper(II), presenting a fast complexation process, a high kinetic inertness, and important thermodynamic and electrochemical stability.

Monopicolinate-dipicolyl derivative of triazacyclononane for stable complexation of Cu2+ and 64Cu2+.

The synthesis and characterization of Hno1pa2py, a new tacn-based ligand, is reported. The complexation process with Cu(2+) was proved to be very fast even in acidic medium. Potentiometric titrations allowed us to establish that Hno1pa2py exhibits an overall low basicity as well as a high selectivity for Cu(2+) over Zn(2+) cations. The copper(II) complex was synthesized and characterized using UV-vis and EPR spectroscopies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The studies clearly showed that the [Cu(no1pa2py)](+) complex is present in solution as a mixture of two isomers in which the ligand is coordinated to the metal center using a N5O donor set with the metal center in a distorted octahedral geometry. The very high kinetic inertness of the [Cu(no1pa2py)](+) complex was demonstrated by using acid-assisted dissociation assays as well as cyclic voltammetry. Preliminary investigations of (64)Cu complexation were performed to validate the potential use of such chelating agent for further application in nuclear medicine. The X-ray crystal structures of copper(II) complexes of L1, the ester derivative of Hno1pa2py, have been determined.

A Trinuclear Copper(II) Cryptate and Its μ3‐CO3 Cascade Complex: Thermodynamics, Structural and Magnetic Properties

The 2,4,6-triethylbenzene-capped hexaamine macrobicycle with pyridyl spacers (pyr) was able to coordinate three copper(II) ions within its cavity. Potentiometric studies performed at 298.2 K in MeOH/H(2)O (50:50 v/v) and at ionic strength 0.10 mol dm(-3) in KNO(3) revealed that trinuclear species predominate in solution from pH 5.0, the hydroxo complexes being the main species, which start forming at unusual very low pH values. The single-crystal X-ray determination of the trinuclear complex showed that the three copper centres have square-planar geometry, arranged in an almost equilateral triangle, and have carbonate bridging the three metal centres. The presence of carbonate resulted from fixation of atmospheric CO(2). The present study represents the first μ(3)-CO(3)-bridged trinuclear copper(II) complex located in the interior of a macrobicyclic cavity. The magnetic data of [Cu(3)(pyr)(μ(3)-CO(3))]·(ClO(4))(4) showed ferromagnetic intramolecular interactions [J=3.80 cm(-1), based on the Hamiltonian H=-J(S(1)S(2)+S(2)S(3)+S(1)S(3))] yielding a spin quartet, S=3/2, ground state. Density functional calculations on the experimental geometry of the trinuclear complex showed that the ferromagnetic nature of the magnetic coupling can be attributed to the syn-anti conformation of the carbonato bridge, and a magneto-structural correlation, based on the different conformations (syn-anti, syn-syn and anti-anti), is presented. The interesting properties observed, namely the lowering of the pK(a) of coordinated water molecules to unusual values and the good fit of the carbonate anion between the copper centres, derive from the special architecture of pyr.

Lanthanide complexes of macrocyclic derivatives useful for medical applications

The protonation constants of two series of tetraazamacrocyclic ligands with acetate and methylphosphonate pendant arms, as well as their stability constants with Cu2+, La3+, Sm3+, and Ho3+, were determined. All the values were determined in aqueous solution at 298.0 K and 0.10 mol dm–3 in N(CH3)4NO3. In the first series, the effect of both types of pendant arms was observed by appending them in the same macrocyclic backbone, a 14-membered tetraazamacrocycle containing pyridine (ac3py14, p2py14, and p3py14). In the second series, two effects were taken into account, the increase of the cavity size of the macrocycle, from 12- to 14-membered, and the appending of acetate (dota, trita, and teta) or methylphosphonate (dotp, tritp, and tetp) arms. The ligands containing methylphosphonate arms have higher thermodynamic stability compared to the corresponding ones with acetate arms, especially in the series of compounds containing pyridine, even upon correction of the different basicity values of the ligands. On the other hand, the ligands with smaller macrocyclic cavity size, namely, dota and dotp, exhibit the largest values of stability constants. In contrast, ac3py14 presents low stability constants with lanthanides. An interpretation of these features based on the known adopted arrangement of dota and teta when free or coordinated with lanthanides is evaluated.

Stability constants of metal complexes of macrocyclic ligands with pendant donor groups

Abstract In our studies of the stability constants of metal complexes, we have investigated a number of macrocyclic ligands with pendant donor groups. The ligands are characterized by the fact that they have nitrogen donors in the macrocyclic ring and oxygen or sulfur donors in the pendant arms. These ligands represent seven different macrocycles, and by varying the pendant donor groups, ten different ligands are indicated. The affinities of these ligands for fifteen metal ions will be described. The Fe(III) complex of triazanonane with o-hydroxypyridyl or o-hydroxybenzyl pendant donor groups are the most stable ferric complexes ever reported. The In(III) complex of triazacyclononane with pendant mercaptoethyl donor groups, is exceptionally stable. Also, the Ca(II) complex of DOTA probably has the highest stability of any calcium(II) complex. These, and other comparisons will be made on the basis of the thermodynamic stability constant data for the ligands described.

Redox method for the determination of stability constants of some trivalent metal complexes

Stability constants determination of very stable metal complexes using the redox method, based on the equilibrium of Fe (3+)Fe (2+) followed by a couple of platinum/reference electrodes, was undertaken and tested to complexes of some trivalent metal ions with well known polyaminopolycarboxymethylated linear ligands (edta, nta, cdta, dtpa and ttha) and also to some new macrocyclic ligands. SUPERQUAD program was used for the calculations, after adaptation of the experimental data. The method proved to be very useful for Fe(3+) and In(3+) complexes, if no polynuclear complexes are formed or/and if the kinetics of the complexation reaction is not very slow. However, for the Ga(3+) complexes the applicability of this method is very limited and the competition with OH(-) using the displacement reaction which occurs at pH higher than 6 with formation of Ga(OH)(4)(-) seems to give more accurate results. A complete data of stability constants for the case of the complexes of ttha with In(3+) is given.