Redox chemosensors: coordination chemistry towards CuII, ZnII, CdII, HgII, and PbII of 1-aza-4,10-dithia-7oxacyclododecane ([12]aneNS2O) and its N-ferrocenylmethyl derivative

The coordination chemistry of the mixed donor 12-membered macrocyclic ligand 1-aza-4,10-dithia-7-oxacyclododecane ([12]aneNS2O) with CuII, ZnII, CdII, HgII, and PbII has been investigated both in water solution and in the solid state. The protonation constant for [12]aneNS2O and stability constants with the aforementioned metal ions have been determined potentiometrically and compared with those reported for other mixed N/S/O-donor tetradentate 12-membered macrocycles. The measured values are consistent with trends observed previously for aza macrocycles as secondary N-donors are replaced by O- and S-donors. In particular our results show that HgII in water has the highest affinity for [12]aneNS2O followed by CuII, CdII, PbII, and ZnII. For each considered metal ion, 1 1 complexes of [12]aneNS2O have been isolated in the solid state; those of CuII, HgII, and CdII have also been characterised by X-ray crystallography. In the cases of copper(II) and cadmium(II) complexes the ligand adopts a folded [2424] conformation, whereas a more planar [3333] conformation is observed in the case of the mercury(II) complex. The macrocycle [12]aneNS2O and its structural analogue [12]aneNS3 have then been used as receptor units in the design and synthesis of the new ferrocene-containing redox-active ionophores N-ferrocenylmethyl 1-aza-4,10-dithia-7-oxacyclododecane (L1) and N-ferrocenylmethyl 1-aza4,10,7-trithiacyclododecane (L2). Electrochemical studies carried out in MeCN in the presence of increasing amounts of CuII, ZnII, CdII, HgII, and PbII showed that the wave corresponding to the Fc/Fc+ couple of the uncomplexed ionophores L1 and L2 is gradually replaced by a new reversible wave at more positive potentials and corresponding to the Fc/Fc+ couple of the complexed ionophores. The maximum shift of the ferrocene oxidation wave was found for L1 in the presence of ZnII(230 mV) and PbII(220 mV), whereas for L2 a selective sensing response for CuII over the other guest metal cations was observed with an oxidation peak shift of 230 mV.