Challenges in modelling and optimisation of stability constants in the study of metal complexes with monoprotonated ligands: Part I. A glass electrode potentiometric and polarographic study of a Cu-TAPSO-OH system

The behaviour of solutions containing 3-(N-tris[hydroxymethyl]methylamine)-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (TAPSO) and copper(II) was studied by two analytical techniques, direct current polarography (DCP) and glass electrode potentiometry (GEP), at fixed total TAPSO to total copper(II) concentration ratios and various pH values, at 25 °C and ionic strength 0.1 M KNO₃. DCP and GEP, when used independently, were not able to provide a final metal-ligand model. Combined interpretation of data from DCP and GEP indicated the formation of six main species, CuL⁺, CuL(OH), CuL(OH)₂⁻, CuL₂, CuL₂(OH)⁻ and CuL₂(OH)₂²⁻ for which stability constants (as log β) were found to be 4.41, 11.43, 17.55, 8.08, 14.3 and 20.3, respectively. Five of these complexes, CuL(OH), CuL(OH)₂⁻, CuL₂, CuL₂(OH)⁻ and CuL₂ (OH)₂²⁻ are reported for the first time.