Aqueous solution study of Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes of macrocyclic oxa- and thia-containing trans-dioxo-tetraamines

Four macrocyclic trans-dioxo-tetraamines containing sulphur or oxygen as additional donors have been prepared: 1-oxa-3,14-dioxo-4,7,10,13-tetraazacyclopentadecane, 1-thia-3,14-dioxo-4,7,10,13-tetraazacyclopentadecane, 1-oxa-3,16-dioxo-4,8,11,15-tetraazacycloheptadecane and 1-thia-3,16-dioxo-4,8,11,15-tetraazacycloheptadecane. Their protonation as well as their metal binding properties with Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ have been determined at 25°C in 0.10 mol dm⁻³ KNO₃. The complexation process was investigated by potentiometric, calorimetric and UV/VIS-spectroscopic titrations. IR-spectroscopy was used to establish the involvement of the amido groups in the coordination. Oxidation of the complexes to the trivalent state of the metal ion was also investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Metal ion complexation promotes the deprotonation of the amide nitrogens, resulting in a neutral complex with four nitrogen donors and a MLH_-2 stoichiometry at pH 8. Additional complexes with stoichiometry ML and MLH_-1 were needed to describe the complexation in the pH range 2–11. Their stability constants were calculated. The presence of oxygen or sulphur donors as well as ring enlargement influence the complexation properties. The electronic spectra indicate rather distorted tetragonal coordination geometries for the Cu(II)-complexes. The Ni(II)-complexes are all square–planar with the exception of an equilibrium between a square–planar and an octahedral form for NiL¹H₋₂. All complexes are easily but irreversibly oxidized to the trivalent state of the metal ion.