Metal complexes of some asymmetric diaminodiamide ligands—II. Stabilities of complexes of nickel(II) in aqueous solution

Equilibria between a series of asymmetric diaminodiamides and Ni(II) in aqueous solution have been studied by potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods. The ligands were S,R,S- and S,S,S-N,N′-dialanylpropylenediamine (DAPN), S,S-N,N′-dialanylethylenediamine (DAEN), R-N,N′-diglycylpropylenediamine (DGPN), and N,N′-diglycylethylenediamine (DGEN). At lower values of pH the complexes NiL²⁺ and in some cases NiL²⁺₂ were formed. Spectral data indicated that both of these were octahedral. At higher pH the two amide protons were lost and square planar complexes were formed. The diastereomeric DAPN ligands showed stereoselectivity in the equilibrium constants for deprotonation and formation of the square planar complexes. Comparison of optical rotatory dispersion curves and absorption spectra for the various complexes permits partial assignment of structures.