Complex formation equilibria between mercury(II) complexes of pencillamine and glutathione and transition metal ions

Summary The interaction between Hg^II complexes of the thiols pencillamine and glutathione and some transition metal ions has been investigated potentiometrically. Mixedmetal complexes of the forms Hg(ps)₂M and Hg(gs)₂M (where M=Co or Ni), were detected. The complexes formed between glutathione disulphide with bivalent metal ions Zn^II, Ni^II, Co^II and Cd^II have also been studied. Zn^II and Ni^II form the complexes M(gssg)H and M(gssg), while Co^II and Cd^II form only the fully deprotonated complex M(gssg). The formation constants of the complexes were determined at 25°C and I=0.1 M (NaNO₃). The concentration distribution of various complex species as a function of pH was evaluated.