Tungsten(VI)-gluconic acid complexes: Polarimetric and13C-N.m.r. Studies in an excess of tungsten(VI)

Summary A polarimetric study of the tungsten (VI)-gluconic acid system in an excess of metal reveals the formation of four stable complexes: two monomers with 1 : 2 and 2: 1 stoichiometries and two dimers of 2:2 composition. The pH ranges of these species, the amount of acid equivalents their formation requires, and their conditional stability constants have also been calculated.The probable coordination of the organic ligand to the metallic centre in solutions containing different metal : ligand ratios has been investigated by¹³C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The results confirm the formation of different complexes depending on the reagent which is in excess. The behaviour of the system when the metal is in excess is related to that of other polyhydroxylic ligands such as mannitol and sorbitol.