Oxovanadium(IV) complexes of the monosaccharides D- and L-arabinose, D-gala
ctose, D-mannose, D-lyxose, D-xylose and the disaccharide maltose were obta
ined in aqueous solutions at pH 13. Their sodium salts were precipitated wi
th absolute ethanol and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy (absorption an
d reflectance), thermoanalytical (TG and DTA) data, magnetic susceptibility
measurements and IR-spectroscopy. All the complexes were found to be monon
uclear, possessing the VO2+ moiety. The IR spectra were analyzed and discus
sed in detail allowing one to determine the characteristics of the metal-to
-ligand interactions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.