Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes of a cyclam derivative as carriers in iodide-selective electrodes

The ligand 1,4,8-tri(n-octyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (L¹) containing pendant octyl groups has been synthesised. L¹ is a tetraazamacrocycle derived from the well-known cyclam unit, and the Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ complexes, [Ni(L¹)]²⁺ and [Co(L¹)]²⁺, have been isolated and characterised. The ability of the nickel(II) and cobalt(II) complexes to act as anion receptors has been studied by using them as ionophores in membrane-based ion-selective electrodes (ISEs). The PVC membrane containing the complex [Ni(L¹)]²⁺ and 2-nitrophenyloctylether as plasticizer shows a Nernstian response against iodide in a concentration range from 1×10⁻¹ to 4×10⁻⁵ M I⁻ with a detection limit of 1.6×10⁻⁵ M I⁻ and a slope of 58.6 mV/pI⁻ at pH 7 (25 °C). In comparison, the electrode containing [Co(L¹)]²⁺ as ionophore gave a sub-Nernstian slope and a low lifetime. A comparison between the iodide-selective electrode containing [Ni(L¹)]²⁺ and other reported iodide-selective electrodes is also reported.