Synthesis and metal ion complexation of acyclic Schiff base podands with lipophilic amide and ester end groups

A series of acyclic Schiff base podands 14?C19 with lipophilic amide and ester end groups were synthesized in good yield and in a simple way. Their transition metal ions complexation was studied using conductometric method in acetonitrile (AN) at 25 °C. Schiff base podands 14?C16 showed a continuous decrease in the molar conductances in their complexation with Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ which begins to level off at a mole ratio of 1:1 crown-to-metal indicating the formation of a stable 1:1 complexes. The order of the stability constants of the metal ions studied with the Schiff base podands 14, 15 and 16 is: Hg²⁺ > Pb²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Ag⁺. Metal ion complexation by acyclic diamide or diester podands involves presumably the oxygen atoms of the carbonyl groups in addition to the nitrogen atoms of the imino groups.