Ion-selective properties of 1,8-bis [2-(dihydroxyphosphinyl)phenoxy]-3,6-dioxaoctane (H4L3), synthesis and vibrational spectra of copper and zinc complexes with H4L3, and crystal and molecular structure of [Cu(H4L3)(H2O)3][(H2L3)(H2O)]

The ion-selective properties of 1,8-bis2-(dihydroxyphosphinyl)phenoxy]-3,6-dioxaoctane (H₄L³) have been studied and its potentiometric selectivity coefficients have been determined. New complexes Cu(H₄L³)(H₂O)₃](H₂L³)(H₂O)] (I) and Zn(H₄L³)(H₂L³) · 3H₂O, and Cu(H₂L³) · 2(H₂O) have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal and molecular structure of I has been determined by X-ray crystallography and vibrational spectroscopy. The crystals are monoclinic, a = 10.279(5) Å, b = 26.532(13) Å, c = 8.399(4) Å, β = 99.270(8)°, V = 2260.8(7) ų, Z = 2, space group Cm, R = 0.0347 for 4325 reflections with I > 2σ(I). Ionic compound I is composed of the Cu(H₄L³)(H₂O)₃]²⁺ complex cations and (H₂L³)(H₂O)]^2? anions. In the cation, the Cu²⁺ cation located in the m plane is bound to a tetragonal pyramidal (TP) array. The equatorial plane of the TP is formed by two phosphoryl oxygen atoms of the podand (Cu(1)-O, 1.921(2) Å) and two O atoms of two water molecules (av. Cu(1)-O, 1.981(3) Å). The third water molecule is at the axial vertex of the TP at a considerably larger distance (Cu(1)-O, 2.139(3) Å). The anion is of the host-guest type. The host is the deprotonated podand (H₂L³)^2?, and the guest is the water molecule. The latter is bound to the terminal hydroxyl groups of two phosphoryl groups of the podand by two acceptor hydrogen bonds and to two central ether oxygen atoms of the (H₂L³)^2? anion by one donor bifurcated hydrogen bond. The cations and anions in the structure are linked by hydrogen bonds to form chains parallel to the c axis.