Chelation of Na+ cations in nonaqueous solvents. Structural requirements and methodological considerations

Intrinsic formation constants for complexes of Na⁺ ions with a series of polyamines have been determined from²³Na NMR measurements in binary mixtures of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and amines. The results show in a totally unambiguous manner a regular decrease in the magnitude of the chelate effect with the number of atoms intervening between the nitrogen ligators. The key assumption, tetracoordination of the cation, is critically examined, and experimental evidence is adduced in its support.