Electrochemical Sensing of Mercury over Cadmium and Lead Cations by the Redox-Active Polyazacycloalkane Ligand 1,1″: 1′,1′′′-Bis[ethane-1,2-diylbis(iminomethylene)]bis[ferrocene]

The coordination behaviour of the redox-active polyazacycloalkane L¹ against the toxic heavy-metal ions Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Hg²⁺ was studied in THF/H₂O 70 : 30 (containing 0.1 mol?dm^?3 of (Bu₄N)ClO₄). The crystal and molecular structure of the cadmium complex Cd(L¹)(NO₃)₂] ( 1 ) was determined by X-ray single-crystal analysis. The cadmium ion is in a 4+2 surrounding with the ligand L¹ acting as tetradentate and the apical positions occupied by the O-atoms of the nitrate anions. An electrochemical study reveals that L¹ shows a selective electrochemical response against Hg²⁺ over Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺.