Host-guest assembly of ligand systems for metal ion complexation. Synergistic solvent extraction of copper(II) and silver(I) by 1,4,8,11-tetrabenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclodecane in combination with carboxylic acids.
Host-guest formation between 1,4,8,11-tetrabenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclodecane (1) and lipophilic organic carboxylic acids in chloroform has been investigated and the effect of such ligand assembly on the solvent extraction of copper(II) and silver(I) has been probed. NMR titration experiments in the absence of a metal ion confirm the formation of weak 1:1 and 1:2 (macrocycle:carboxylic acid) assemblies in CDCl(3) between 1 and palmitic (hexadecanoic) acid or 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid while difunctional salicylic acid showed a 1 [ratio] 2 interaction that is somewhat stronger. The interaction between the former two acids and the tetra-N-benzylated macrocycle is significantly less than that reported previously for its non-substituted parent, cyclam; a result that likely reflects the presence of the less-basic, more sterically hindered tertiary nitrogens in 1 relative to the secondary nitrogens present in cyclam. Carboxylic acid-containing assemblies of this type have been used as extractants in a series of solvent extraction (water/chloroform) experiments. From both previous observations as well as from entropy considerations, it was anticipated that the use of a host-guest assembly of the above type for metal-ion complexation might contribute to enhanced metal ion binding (and concomitant enhanced metal ion extraction). Such behaviour is postulated to arise from the components of the coordination sphere being, at least in part, assembled for complex formation. In accord with this, the use of the ligand assembly involving palmitic acid/macrocycle 1 was found to lead to enhanced (synergistic) extraction of copper(II) at a metal ion concentration of 10(-3) mol dm(-3) while, for silver(I), synergism was somewhat marginal at this concentration but was clearly apparent under related conditions when the silver concentration was reduced to 10(-4) mol dm(-3). Similar behaviour towards silver was also observed when 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid was substituted for palmitic acid, while the use of salicylic acid resulted in enhanced (synergistic) extraction at both metal ion concentrations.
Synthesis of tris-(azacrown) ethers for carboxylic acid recognition
The synergistic enhancement of metal ion extraction by azacrown ethers in the presence of carboxylic acids has been attributed to a ligand assembly effect in which these two ligands form a complex, facilitated by proton transfer, prior to complexation of the metal ion. In order to investigate the first steps in this multi-component complexation procedure, six tris-(azacrown) ethers were synthesised in high yields and their ability to complex mono- and tri-carboxylic acids was investigated by 1H NMR in methanol-d4. All six compounds bound to benzoic acid with 1:3 host–guest stoichiometry and four of them bound tricarboxylic acids with 1:1 host–guest stoichiometry, providing good support for the proposed first step in the ligand assembly effect.
Extraction of Metal Salts by Mixtures of Water-Immiscible Amines and Organic Acids (Acid-Base Couple Extractants). 2. Theoretical Treatment and Analysis
A comprehensive discussion is provided for the complex system obtained on equilibrating an aqueous solution of a salt with an acid-base couple (ABC) extractant. These extractants were analyzed as a combination of a liquid cation exchanger and a liquid anion exchanger operating concurrently. The effect of the amine on the organic acid activity and the effect of the acid on the amine activity were compared to those of mineral bases and acids on single active component extractants. The available distribution and spectroscopic data, summarized in the previous article, are discussed.