Recognition of oxovanadium(V) species and its separation from other metal species through selective complexation by some acyclic ligands

Acyclic molecules possessing -OH (phenoxo and alkoxo type) groups and imine or amine moieties have been developed to sense the specific preference for VO3+ species. These molecules also showed a capability to quantitatively s eparate oxovanadium(V) species from a reaction mixture containing metal spe cies of V, Mo, U, Fe, and Mn ions in solution. A cascade quantitative separ ation of VO3+ followed by cis - MoO22+ followed by trans - UO22+ species is demonstrated from their mixture. Synthesis and structural details of ore-s pecies of vanadium molybdenum and uranium are also discussed. Factors influ encing the complexation of these molecules towards oxo metal species of V, Mo and U are also addressed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.