Stability studies on 1:1 or 1:3 stoichiometry complexes of hexaza tripods with zinc(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II)

The coordination properties of two C3-symmetry hexaza tripods, 1,3,5-tri(2,5-diazahexyl)benzene (L1) and 1,3,5-tri(2,5-diazaheptyl)benzene (L2), towards Zn2+, Cu2+, Ni2+ and Co2+ ions, studied by potentiometric techniques, are reported. Both ligands form quite stable complexes either in a 1:1 or 1:3 M:L stoichiometry, presenting a preferential coordination order: Zn2+ < Cu2+ > Ni2+ > Co2+. It is observed that the different configurations of metal complexes are achieved due to the fact that tripodal ligands are flexible and not constrained into a rigid geometry.