Calcichrome: a re-examination of its structure and chemical properties by solid- and liquid-state NMR,infrared spectroscopy,and selective chemical degradation

Nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopies were used to unravel the controversies regarding the structures of calcichrome and calcion. Together with the identification of the products from selective chemical cleavage reactions, these data indicate that structures of both compounds are equivalent with a molecular formula of C₂₀H₁₄N₂O₁₅S₄·3H₂O (2,8,8′-trihydroxy-1,1′-azonaphthelene-3,6,3′,6′-tetrasulfonic acid). The compound has two titratable phenolic protons in aqueous solution with pK_a values of 7.19 ± 0.05 and 11.63 ± 0.05 at 25 ° C. As a ligand, the compound forms a colored complex with calcium(II) at a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio (pH 12.3) with a formation constant of 8.0 × 10³ at 25 ° C. The free form of the ligand at pH 12.3 has a molar maximum molar absorptivity of 1.44 × 10⁴ l mol^?1 cm^?1 at 599 nm, whereas the complexed form has a maximum molar absorptivity of 1.37 × 10⁴ l mol^? cm^?1 at 522 nm.