The oxovanadium(IV) complexes formed in aqueous solutions by ethylened
iaminetetraacetic (EDTA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic (
HEDTA), ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic (EGTA), trans-(1,2-
cyclohexylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic (CDTA), ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacet
ic (EDDA), nitrilotriacetic (NTA), imino-diacetic (IDA), N-methylimino
diacetic (MIDA), ethylenediamine-N,N'-dipropionic (EDDP) and N,N'-ethy
lenedianthranilic (EDA) acids have been studied by EPR and electronic
absorption spectroscopy. The species taking part in the complex format
ion processes have been identified and structures proposed by previous
equilibrium studies have been examined and discussed on the basis of
the spectroscopic data. In particular, hydrolysis has been found to yi
eld mononuclear and dinuclear hydroxo species. The dinuclear di-mu-hyd
roxo species formed by iminodiacetate-like ligands exhibit EPR spectra
indicative of the triplet state and have been assigned as involving i
ntermolecular carboxylate binding and hydroxyl bridges. EPR-silent di-
mu-hydroxo complexes have been substantiated by the intensity loss of
the EPR signals.