Conductometric Studies of Thermodynamics of Complexation of Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ Cations with Aza-18-crown-6 in Binary Acetonitrile-Methanol Mixtures

Abstract

The complexation reactions between aza-18-crown-6 (A18C6) and Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ ions were studied conductometrically in different acetonitrile-methanol mixtures at various temperatures. The formation constants of the resulting 1 : 1 complexes were calculated from the computer fitting of the molar conductance-mole ratio data at different temperatures. Selectivity of A18C6 for Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ cations is sensitive to the solvent composition. At 20°C and in acetonitrile solvent, the stability of the resulting complexes varied in the order but the order was reversed byadding 20% methanol. The enthalpy and entropy changes of the complexation reactions were evaluated from the temperature dependence of formation constants. It was found that the stability of the resulting complexes decreased with increasing methanol in the solvent mixture. The TΔS° versus ΔH° plot of thermodynamic data obtained shows a fairly good linear correlation indicating the existence of enthalpy-entropy compensation in the complexation reactions. In addition, binding energies of Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ complexes with A18C6 were calculated at B3LYP/6-31G level of theory.