Complex formation of polyethyleneimine with copper(II), nickel(II), and cobalt(II) ions

An influence of the structure of a globule of polyethyleneimine on the complex formation of one with the copper(II), nickel(II), and cobalt(II) ions is described. A change of the coordination number from the pH of solution for complexes of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, and polyethyleneimine with metal ions was found. The fraction of monomer links, bound with metal ions, depends on the volume of the globule of macromolecule as well as the condition of the proceeding reaction. The reaction of complex formation is controlled by the diffusion of metal ions into the polymer globule in solution. The effective equilibrium constants of complex formation were found. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 914–922, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10157