COORDINATION OF COPPER(II) WITH MONOAMINO-TRIOLS AND MONOAMINO-TETROLS - EFFECT OF STEREOCHEMISTRY ON COMPLEX-FORMATION

A series of 4-aminobutanetriols and 5-aminopentanetetrols was synthesi sed and their co-ordination abilities towards copper(II) studied by po tentiometry and spectroscopic techniques (UV/VIS. ESR and CD). The bas ic binding mode involves the amino nitrogen and the adjacent deprotona ted hydroxyl group. The latter donor acts as a bridge between two meta l ions giving stable dimeric species. No monomeric complexes were dete cted in the systems studied. The formation of the alkoxo-bridged compl exes seems to be the most characteristic feature of the investigated l igands. Other hydroxyl donors are also involved in the metal-ion bindi ng. The stability constants calculated from the pH-metric data showed that the chirality of the carbons in an aminoalcohol molecule may have a considerable effect on its co-ordination ability.