Study of terbium(III)–dextran and terbium(III)–α-methyl glucoside interactions

The interaction of dextran with terbium(III) was studied in aqueous solution, pH 3.0–6.6, by fluorescence and optical rotatory dispersion. The polysaccharide enhances Tb(III) fluorescence intensity when the system is excited at the 290-nm hypersensitive transition (⁷F₆ → ⁵H₄). The dextran rotatory power is decreased in the presence of the metal ion. The results indicate that a 38% maximum of the polymer repeat units are coordinated. Complex formation occurs with displacement of water from the cation coordination sphere by hydroxyl groups at the second and third carbon atoms of the pyranoside ring. As the pH increases, a more asymmetric complex is formed. The α-methyl glucoside, low molecular weight dextran analogue, interacts with Tb(III) less strongly than dextran. Fluorimetric titrations indicated that the order of binding ability to polysaccharide is Tb(III) > Al(III) > Ca (II). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.