Metal Ion Interaction of Two New Tritopic N2O13 Macrobicycles with B15C5 Moieties in Acetonitrile Solution

The synthesis of two new tritopic crown ligands (L1 and L2) bearing two benzo-15-crown-5 lateral moieties linked through a dibenzo-trioxa chain together with their interaction with metal ions, in acetonitrile and acetonitrile–water (50%, v/v) solutions is reported. The influence of K⁺, Na⁺, Li⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Al³⁺, on the spectroscopic properties of these diaza-polyoxa ligands was investigated by absorption spectrophotometry and in some cases by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Coordination with alkaline (Na⁺, K⁺ and Li⁺) and alkaline earth (Ca²⁺and Ba²⁺) metal ions is assumed to be weak with both macrobicyclic ligands, while the interaction with both imine and amine derivatives causes a minor effect in the absorption spectra. Coordination with Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺ in acetonitrile solution causes a major change in the absorption spectra of the chromophores. In the case of Cu²⁺, addition of the metal to L1 or L2 leads to a blue–violet complex in solution with an absorbance maximum centred at 590 nm. Interaction of the Schiff-base L1 with Pb²⁺ leads to a short wavelength shift in the absorption bands, comparable with the ZnL1 complex. Presence of transition metal ions such as Co²⁺, Ni²⁺and Cd²⁺ do not remarkably affect the absorption spectra of L1 and L2 in solution. Trivalent aluminium has a modest effect in the absorption bands of both N₂O₁₃ donor set bismacrocyclic ligands. The fluorescence study of L2 in the presence of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Al³⁺shows that Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Al³⁺ complexes form non-fluorescent complexes.