Synthesis and spectral studies of new N2S2 and N2O2 Mannich base ligands and their metal complexes

New Mannich bases bis(thiosemicarbazide methyl) phosphinic acid H₃L¹ and bis(1-phenylsemicarbazide methyl) phosphinic acid H₃L² were synthesized from condensation of phosphinic acid and formaldehyde with thiosemicarbazide and 1-phenylsemicarbazide, respectively. Monomeric complexes of these ligands, of general formula K₂[Cr^III(L ⁿ )Cl₂], K₃[Fe^II(L¹)Cl₂], K₃[Mn^II(L²)Cl₂], and K[M(L ⁿ )] (M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) or Cd(II); n = 1, 2) are reported. The mode of bonding and overall geometry of the complexes were determined through IR, UV-Vis, NMR, and mass spectral studies, magnetic moment measurements, elemental analysis, metal content, and conductance. These studies revealed octahedral geometries for the Cr(III), Mn(II), and Fe(II) complexes, square planar for Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes and tetrahedral for the Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes. Complex formation via molar ratio in DMF solution has been investigated and results were consistent to those found in the solid complexes with a ratio of (M : L) as (1 : 1).     

Synthesis and study of complex formation of tri-and tetranitro-9-fluorenone oximes with 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> metals: Crystal and molecular structure of the 1: 1 solvate of 2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenone oxime with acetonitrile

The complexes M(L^{1, 2})₂ · nH₂O, where M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn; n = 2 and 3, were synthesized by the reaction of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) chlorides with 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone oxime (HL¹) and 2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenone oxime (HL²) and identified. It was shown that HL^{1, 2} were coordinated by metal cations in the anionic form in a 2: 1 ratio. A single crystal of the solvate of HL² with acetonitrile (1: 1) HL² · NCCH₃ was isolated, and its crystal structure was determined. The spectral characteristics were determined, and the acidity constant of HL¹ was calculated. The structures for the synthesized complexes were proposed.     

Catalytic Adsorptive Stripping Chronopotentiometry of Co(II)‐DMG‐Bromate System at an In Situ Plated Lead Film Electrode

A novel catalytic adsorptive stripping chronopotentiometric (CC‐CAdSCP) procedure for the determination of Co(II) traces was developed using a lead film electrode (PbFE). The PbFE was generated in situ on a glassy carbon support from a 0.1 M ammonia buffer containing 1×10^?5 M Pb(II), 6.5×10^?5 M DMG and the target metals. An addition of 0.2 M NaBrO₃ to the solution yielded an 11‐fold catalytic enhancement of chronopotentiometric response of the Co(II)‐DMG complex. The CC‐CAdSCP curves were well‐developed, sharp and reproducible (RSD 5.0 % for 5×10^?9 M Co(II)). The limit of detection for Co(II) for 210 s of accumulation time was 4×10^?10 M (0.024 µg L^?1). In addition, the elaborated method allowed the simultaneous quantification of Co(II) and Ni(II) simultaneously.     

Catalytic Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Cobalt and Nickel as Their α‐Furil Dioxime Complexes

The exploitation of the catalytic‐adsorptive effect in the Co(II)‐dioxime‐nitrite systems provides a significant increase of the Co adsorptive stripping voltammetric response and subsequently the influence of the interfering elements such as Ni and Zn is strongly diminished. The purpose of the present paper was to study voltammetric properties of Co and Ni in a supporting electrolyte containing ammonia buffer, α‐furil dioxime in the absence and in the presence of nitrite, by differential pulse polarography and adsorptive stripping voltammetry. Results of detailed studies aimed at optimizing the analytical parameters for simultaneous catalytic adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of Co and Ni in the form of complexes with α‐furil dioxime in the presence of Zn matrix are presented. In the supporting electrolyte of composition 0.1 M NH₄Cl, 0.5 M NH₃, 4×10^?5 M αFD, 0.5 M NaNO₂ the linearity range amounts from 0.03 to 2.4 μg/L for Co and from 0.3 to 9 μg/L for Ni for 20 s of accumulation. The method enables the determination of Co and Ni in the presence of a great excess of Zn with the detection limit equal to 0.02 μg/L Co and 0.2 μg/L Ni obtained for a 20 s accumulation time.     

Flotation Separation of Lead with Sodium Nitrate‐Potassium Iodide‐Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide System

The flotation separation behavior of lead with Sodium Nitrate‐Potassium Iodide‐Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide system and the conditions for the separation of lead with other metal ions are studied in this research. With 0.1 M potassium iodide, 1.0 × 10^?2 M Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide and 1.0 g/10 mL of sodium nitrate, Pb(II) can form an ion‐association complex (PbI₄^2?) (CTMAB⁺)₂ and be separated completely from Zn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Al(III) by flotation at pH = 1.0–3.0.     

Synthesis of asymmetrical tridendate Schiff bases and metal complexes and investigation of anticarcinogen effects on human colon and cervical cancers

The metal complexes of Zn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) with asymmetrical Schiff bases were synthesized. The asymmetrical Schiff base was obtained through the condensation of 1,2-phenylenediamine, 4-methyl-1,2-phenylenediamine, 2-hydroxy-1-napthaldehyde and biphenyl-4-carbaldehyde. The new Schiff base ligands (L₁' and L₂') and their metal complexes were characterized by TG/DTG, FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, UV–Vis, ESR, powder XRD, elemental analysis, magnetic moment and fluorescence studies. The powder XRD studies indicate that Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes are amorphous, while Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes are crystalline. The anticarcinogenic effects of L₁' and L₂' were also investigated against colon (SW-620) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines and compound L₂' was found to possess the highest anticarcinogenic potential, with 16.7 µM and 27.5 µM of IC₅₀ values for HeLa and SW620 cells, respectively.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Cesium Nitratometalates(II), Cs2[M(NO3)4] (M = Mn,Co, Ni,Zn)

Crystalline cesium nitratometalates(II), Cs₂[M(NO₃)₄] (M = Mn ( I ), Co ( II ), Ni ( III ), and Zn ( IV )) were synthesized from M(NO₃)₂ · n H₂O and CsNO₃ by heating at 80–120 °C over 10–12 h. According to X-ray crystal structure analysis, the compounds are built from Cs⁺ cations and [M(NO₃)₄]^2– anions. The latter differ by the type of metal coordination: a dodecahedron for Mn in I (CN = 8, r_Mn–O 2.24–2.37 Å), a seven coordination for Co in II (CN = 4 + 3, r_Co–O 2.03–2.16 Å and 2.21–2.35 Å) and a tetrahedral distorted dodecahedron for Zn in IV (CN = 4 + 4, r_Zn–O 1.98–2.15 Å and 2.38–2.72 Å). Ni atom in III has a distorted octahedral NiO₆ environment provided by two unidentate and two bidentate NO₃ groups with Ni–O distances of 2.01–2.14 Å. The differences in metal coordination are discussed in terms of valence electron configurations, ionic radii, and the packing effects.     

Simultaneous determination of Co(II), Cr(VI), Ni(II) and Pb(II) in water by solvent extraction and high-field 1H NMR Spectrometry

A novel analytical approach is described that combines the preconcentration power of solvent extraction with the resolution and sensitivity of a 500 MHz ¹H NMR spectroscopic detection method for the quantitative determination of metals. Co(II), Cr(VI), Ni(II) and Pb(II) in water are extracted into chloroform as dithiocarbamate complexes. By decoupling the protons and employing a solvent-induced shift method, the ¹H NMR spectrum containing the dithiocarbamate complexes of Co(II), Cr(VI), Ni(II) and Pb(II) is fully resolved at CDCl₃/ C₆D₆ below 40%/60%. The detection limits for Co(II), Cr(VI), Ni(II) and Pb(II) are estimated to be 0.12, 0.073, 0.11 and 0.27 μg/mL, respectively, in the sample solution.     

Dissociation constants of some Schiff bases and stability constants of their copper,cobalt, nickel and zinc complexes

The stoichiometry and stability constant of metal complexes with 4-(3-methoxy-salicylideneamino)-5-hydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid monosodium salt (H₂L) and 4-(3-methoxysalicylideneamino)-5-hydroxy-6-(2,5-dichlorophenylazo)-2,7-naphthalene disulfonic acid monosodium salt (H₂L¹) were studied by potentiometric titration. The stability constants of H₂L and H₂L¹ Schiff bases have been investigated by potentiometric titration and u.v.–vis spectroscopy in aqueous media. The dissociation constants of the ligand and the stability constants of the metal complexes were calculated pH-metrically at 25 °C and 0.1 m KCl ionic strength. The dissociation constants for H₂L were obtained as 3.007, 7.620 and 9.564 and for H₂L¹, 4.000, 6.525, 9.473 and 10.423, respectively. The complexes were found to have the formulae [M(L)₂] for M = Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II). The stability of the complexes follows the sequence: Zn(II) < Co(II) < Cu(II) < Ni(II). The high stability of H₂L¹ towards Cu(II) and Ni(II) over the other ions is remarkable, in particular over Cu(II), and may be of technological interest. Concentration distribution diagram of various species formed in solution was evaluated for ligands and complexes. The formation of the hydrogen bonds may cause this increased stability of ligands. The pH-metric data were used to find the stoichiometry, deprotonation and stability constants via the SUPERQUAD computer program.     

Studies on the complexing behavior of a potentially tetradentate Schiff-base ligand with some transition metal ions

The Schiff base furfural-histidine with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) in solution gives M(AB), M(AB)B, or M(AB)₂. The Schiff base is tetradentate in M(AB)₂ and M(AB)B and tridentate in M(AB)₂; [M(AB)₂] · 2H₂O (M = Co, Ni and Zn) and [Cu(AB)]NO₃ were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molecular weight determination, conductance, IR, UV–Vis, and CV. The electronic spectral measurements indicate that M(AB)₂ (M = Co(II) and Ni(II)) are octahedral and Cu(AB) is square planar geometry. The donor groups in the complexes have been identified by IR. The complexes undergo irreversible one step, two-electron reduction. Antibacterial activity of the complexes was screened for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Cu(II) complex was found to be more active than the Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) complexes.     

Preparation of a novel Mixed-Ligand divalent metal complexes from solvent free Synthesized Schiff base derived from 2,6-Diaminopyridine with cinnamaldehyde and 2,2′‐Bipyridine: Characterization and antibacterial activities

The solvent-free conditions were employed to synthesise symmetrical Schiff base ligand from 2,6-diaminopyridine with cinnamaldehyde in (1 min) with a fair yield utilizing formic acid as a catalyst. Through coordination chemistry, new heteroleptic complexes of Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Pt(II), Pd(II) and Zn(II) were achieved from Schiff base as a primary chelator (L¹) and 2,2′‐bipyridine (2,2′-bipy) as a secondary chelator (L²). The prepared compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, FTIR, ¹H NMR, UV–visible, mass spectrometry, and thermal gravimetric analysis, and screened in vitro for their potential as antibacterial activity by the agar well diffusion method. The metal complexes were formulated as [M (L¹) (L²) (X)] Y⋅nH₂O, L¹ = Schiff base, L² = 2,2′-bipy, (M = Cu(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Y = 2NO₃, n = 1), (M = Ni(II), X = 2H₂O, Y = 2NO_3, n = 0) and (M = Pd(II) Pt(II), Y = 2Cl, n = 0). Both L¹ and L² act as a neutral bidentate ligand and coordinates via nitrogen atoms of imine and 2,2′-bipy to metal ions. The metal complexes were found to be electrolytic, with square-planar heteroleptic Cu(II), Co(II), Pt(II), and Pd(II) chelates and octahedral Ni(II) complex. As well as tetrahedral geometry, has been proposed for the complex of Zn(II). Furthermore, the biological activity study revealed that some metal chelates have excellent activity than Schiff base when tested against Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Finally, it was found that the Zn(II) and Pd(II) complexes were more effective against both types of bacteria tested than the imine and other metal complexes.     

New complexes of some d-electron elements with 3-methyladipic acid

Conditions for the preparation of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) 3-methyladipates were investigated and their qualitative composition and magnetic moments were determined. The IR spectra and powder diffraction patterns of the complexes prepared of the general formula M(C₇H₁₀O₄)·nH₂O (n=0-11) were recorded and their thermal decomposition in air were studied. During heating the hydrated complexes are dehydrated in one (Co, Ni) or two steps (Mn, Zn) losing all crystallization water molecules (Co, Ni) or some water molecules (Mn, Zn) and then anhydrous (Co, Ni, Cu) or hydrated complexes (Mn, Zn) decompose directly to oxides (Mn, Co, Zn) or with intermediate formation the mixture of M+MO (Ni, Cu). The carboxylate groups are bidentate (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu) or monodentate (Zn). The complexes exist as polymers. The magnetic moments for the paramagnetic complexes of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) attain values 5.48, 4.49, 2.84 and 1.45 B.M., respectively. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Highly Sensitive and Selective Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Method Employing a Lead Film Screen‐printed Electrode for Determination of Cobalt as its Nioximate Complex

A carbon screen‐printed electrode modified in‐situ with lead film (PbF‐SPCE) was applied for the adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of Co(II) in the form of a complex with 1,2‐cyclohexanedione dioxime. Lead film was electrochemically deposited in situ on SPCE from a 0.2 M ammonia buffer solution (pH 8.7) containing 5 ? 10^?5 M Pb(NO₃)₂ and 5 ? 10^?5 M nioxime. Due to the very low LOD (0.003 µgL^?1, i.e., 0.05 nmol L^?1 Co(II); t_acc=120s), the developed procedure could be rated among the most sensitive methods employing SPEs. The Ni(II) signal was significantly lower than the Co(II) one and the separation of Ni(II) and Co(II) peaks was even better at the PbF‐SPCE than at the hanging mercury drop electrode.     

Synthesis and structural studies of new Mannich base ligands and their metal complexes

The new Mannich bases bis(1,4-diphenylthiosemicarbazide methyl) phosphinic acid H₃L¹ and bis(1,4-diphenylsemicarbazide methyl) phosphinic acid H₃L² were synthesised from the condensation of phosphinic acid, formaldehyde with 1,4-diphenyl thiosemicarbazide and 1,4-diphenylsemicarbazide, respectively. Monomeric complexes of these ligands, of general formulae K₂[Cr^III(L ⁿ )Cl₂], K₃[Mn^II(L ⁿ )Cl₂] and K[M(L ⁿ )] (M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) or Hg(II); n = 1, 2), are reported. The mode of bonding and overall geometry of the complexes were determined through physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. These studies revealed octahedral geometries for the Cr(III), Mn(II) complexes, square planar for Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes and tetrahedral for the Zn(II) and Hg(II) complexes.     

A green solventless temperature-assisted homogeneous liquid–liquid microextraction method based on 8-hydroxyquinoline simultaneously as complexing agent and extractant for preconcentration of cobalt and nickel from water and fruit juice samples

A green, simple, rapid and efficient solventless temperature-assisted homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction based on 8-hydroxyquinoline as complexing agent and extractant, followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry was developed for the extraction, enrichment, and determination of trace amounts of nickel and cobalt in aqueous samples. For this purpose, first, a specified amount of 8-hydroxyquinoline is added to the analytes solution. Then the temperature of the solution is increased to melt 8-hydroxyquinoline and form a homogeneous solution. Then, it is cooled to room temperature and a cloudy solution is formed due to decreasing 8-hydroxyquinoline solubility. The solution is then centrifuged, and 8-hydroxyquinoline particles containing the produced complexes (8-hydroxyquinoline-cation) are collected at the bottom of the tube. They are removed and dissolved in a suitable solvent and injected to the detection system. The main parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, such as the amount of 8-hydroxyquinoline, solvent nature, pH, extraction temperature and heating time were investigated. Under optimum conditions, linear ranges for Co(II) and Ni(II) were 1–100 and 0.5–75 µg L^?1, respectively. Relative standard deviations for intra- and inter-day precisions calculated from six repeated determinations at three different concentrations of Co(II) and Ni(II) were ≤5.2 %. Moreover, the obtained detection limits of the analytes were 0.35 and 0.20 µg L^?1 for Co(II) and Ni(II), respectively. The accuracy of the developed procedure was checked by analysing SPS-WW2 Batch 108 water as a certified reference material. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied for the determination of the selected cations in water and fruit juice samples.     

Novel Imprinted Polymer for the Preconcentration of Cadmium with Determination by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

A novel Cd(II)-imprinted polymer was prepared with chemical immobilization using N-methacryloyl-L-Histidine as a vinylated chelating agent for online solid-phase extraction of Cd(II) for determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The Cd(II)–monomer complex was synthesized and copolymerized through bulk polymerization method in the presence of ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate cross-linker. The resulting polymer was leached with 1.0?mol?L^?1 HNO₃ to generate the cavities in the polymer for Cd(II) ions. The experimental conditions, including load pH, solution flow rate, and eluent concentration for effective sorption of Cd(II), were optimized using a minicolumn of the imprinted polymer. A volume of 5.0?mL sample 5?µg?L^?1 Cd(II) solution at pH 6.5 was loaded on the column at 2.0?mL?min^?1 using a sequential injection system followed by elution with 1.0?mL of 0.75?mol?L^?1 HNO₃. The relative selectivity coefficients of the imprinted polymer for Cd(II) were 38.5, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, and 6.0 in the presence of Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), and Pb(II), respectively. Computational calculations revealed that the selectivity of the imprinted polymer was mediated by the stability of Cd(II)–N-methacryloyl-L-Histidine complex which was more stable than commonly used monomers including 4-vinyl pyridine, methacrylic acid, and vinylimidazole. The detection limit and relative standard deviation were 0.004?µg?L^?1 and 3.2%, respectively. The method was validated by the analysis of seawater certified reference material (CASS-4) and successfully used for the determination of Cd(II) in coastal seawater and estuarine water.     

Syntheses,characterization, in vitro antiglycation and DPPH radical scavenging activities of isatin salicylhydrazidehydrazone and its Mn (II), Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), and Zn (II) metal complexes

2-Hydroxy salicylhydrazide isatin hydrazone (L) and its Mn (II), Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), and Zn (II), metal complexes were synthesized. ¹H NMR, UV–Vis, IR spectroscopy and elemental (CHN/S) analysis techniques were applied for characterization. TG/DTA techniques revealed that all the synthetic compounds are thermally stable up to 300 °C. They were found non-electrolytes in nature. Furthermore, all these complexes were evaluated for antiglycation and DPPH radical scavenging activities. They showed varying degree of activity with IC₅₀ values between 168.23 and 269.0 μM in antiglycation and 29.63–57.71 μM in DPPH radical scavenging activity. Mn (II), Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), and Zn (II), metal complexes showed good antiglycation as well as DPPH radical scavenging activity. The IC₅₀ values for antiglycation activity are 168.23 ± 2.37, 234.27 ± 4.33, 257.1 ± 6.43, 267.7 ± 8.43, 269.0 ± 8.56 Ni for Co, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Ni complexes, respectively, while IC₅₀ value were found to be 29.63 ± 2.76, 31.13 ± 1.41, 35.16 ± 2.45, 43.53 ± 3.12, 57.71 ± 2.61 μM for Cu, Zn, Mn, Co and Ni complexes, respectively, for DPPH radical scavenging activity. These synthesized metal complexes were found to be better active than standards Rutin (IC₅₀ = 294.46 μM) for anti-glycation, and tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (IC₅₀ = 44.7 μM) for DPPH radical scavenging activity.     

Steric effects on the electronic and molecular structures of nickel(II) and cobalt(II) 2,6-dipyrazol-1-ylpyridine complexes

The complexes [M(L¹R)₂](BF₄)₂ (M=Ni, Co; L¹R=2,6-dipyrazol-1-ylpyridine [L¹H], 2,6-bis-{3-iso-propylpyrazol-1-yl}pyridine [L¹Prⁱ], 2,6-bis-{3-phenylpyrazol-1-yl}pyridine [L¹Ph], 2,6-bis-{3-[2,4,6-trimethylphenyl]pyrazol-1-yl}pyridine [L¹Mes]) and [M(L²)₂](BF₄)₂ (M=Ni, Co; L²=2-{3-[2,4,6-trimethylphenyl]pyrazol-1-yl}-6-{5-[2,4,6-trimethylphenyl]pyrazol-1-yl}pyridine) have been prepared. Single crystal structure determinations of [M(L¹H)₂](BF₄)₂ (M=Ni, Co) and solvates of [Ni(L¹Mes)₂](BF₄)₂, [Co(L¹Mes)₂](ClO₄)₂ and [Co(L²)₂](BF₄)₂ all show six-coordinate metal centres with local near-D_2d symmetry. The L¹Mes and L² mesityl substituents have only a small effect on the MN{pyrazole} (M=Ni, Co) bond lengths in these compounds. The d–d spectra of the complexes show that L¹Mes is a significantly better donor ligand than L¹H, L¹Prⁱ or L¹Ph, and that L¹Prⁱ is a weaker ligand than might be expected purely on inductive grounds. A combination of UV–Vis/NIR, EPR, NMR and magnetic measurements have demonstrated that all the Co(II) compounds are high-spin in the solid state and in solution at 290 K.     

Synthesis and use of dioxime ligands for treatment of leukemia and colon cancer cells

Two new vicinal dioxime ligands containing thiosemicarbazone units (L¹H₂ and L²H₂) were synthesized and characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation, mass, infrared and UV–visible spectroscopies, elemental analysis and magnetic susceptibility measurements. In addition, homotrinuclear nickel(II), copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes with a metal‐to‐ligand ratio of 3:2 for L¹H₂ and L²H₂ were prepared. Synthesis of nickel(II) complex containing a BF₂⁺ bridge was carried out using a precursor hydrogen‐bridged nickel(II) complex via the template effect. All metal–ligand complexes were tested against two human cancer cell lines (HL‐60 and HT‐29) for their antiproliferative and apoptotic activities. The results showed that [Co(L²H)₂(H₂O)₂] and [Ni(L²H)₂] exhibited the strongest antiproliferative activity with I_pC₅₀ values ranging between 5 and 10 μM, while [Co(L²H)₂(H₂O)₂] and [Ni(L²H)₂] both induced necrosis of HT‐29 cells and 60 and 65% apoptosis in HL‐60 cells, respectively.     

Simultaneous determination of Co(II), Cr(VI), Ni(II) and Pb(II) in water by solvent extraction and high-field 1H NMR Spectrometry

A novel analytical approach is described that combines the preconcentration power of solvent extraction with the resolution and sensitivity of a 500 MHz ¹H NMR spectroscopic detection method for the quantitative determination of metals. Co(II), Cr(VI), Ni(II) and Pb(II) in water are extracted into chloroform as dithiocarbamate complexes. By decoupling the protons and employing a solvent-induced shift method, the ¹H NMR spectrum containing the dithiocarbamate complexes of Co(II), Cr(VI), Ni(II) and Pb(II) is fully resolved at CDCl₃/ C₆D₆ below 40%/60%. The detection limits for Co(II), Cr(VI), Ni(II) and Pb(II) are estimated to be 0.12, 0.073, 0.11 and 0.27 μg/mL, respectively, in the sample solution. Received: 31 July 1997 / Revised: 24 October 1997 / Accepted: 31 October 1997