Phosphinate Analogues of Ida and Nta with Low Basicity of Nitrogen Atom: Acid-Base and Complexation Properties

<div><p></p><p>Analogues of iminodiacetic acid (H₂IDA) and nitrilotriacetic acid (H₃NTA) bearing two (hydroxomethyl)methylphosphinate or (2-carboxyethyl)methylphosphinate groups were synthesized. Their acid-base and coordination properties with divalent metal ions (Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺) were studied by potentiometry. The compounds exhibit very low basicity of the amino groups (p<i>K</i>_a = 6.2–7.6) due to presence of two electron-withdrawing methylphosphinate groups and, consequently, a low stability of the complexes. In the case of IDA-analogues, the low complex stability results in precipitation of metal hydroxides in neutral region. As expected, NTA-analogues form more stable complexes and, thus, they were also studied in the alkaline region. Presence of additional carboxylate in the 2-carboxyethylphosphinic acid groups results in the formation of dinuclear complexes. Solid-state structures of two compounds were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The compounds are protonated on the nitrogen atom and the structures are stabilized by rich hydrogen bond network.</p></div