Unusual Recognition and Separation of Hydrated Metal Sulfates [M2(μ-SO4)2(H2O)n, M = ZnII, CdII, CoII, MnII] by a Ditopic Receptor

A ditopic receptor L1, having metal binding bis(2-picolyl) donor and anion binding urea group, is synthesized and explored toward metal sulfate recognition via formation of dinudear assembly, (L1)(2)M-2(SO4)(2). Mass spectrometric analysis, H-1-DOSY NMR, and crystal structure analysis reveal the existence of a dinuclear assembly of MSO4 with two units of L1. H-1 NMR study reveals significant downfield chemical shift of -NH protons of urea moiety of L1 selectively with metal sulfates (e.g., ZnSO4, CdSO4) due to second-sphere interactions of sulfate with the urea moiety. Variable-temperature H-1 NMR studies suggest the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction toward metal sulfate recognition in solution state, whereas intermolecular H-bonding interactions are observed in solid state. In contrast, anions in their tetrabutylammonium salts fail to interact with the urea -NH probably due to poor acidity of the tertiary butyl urea group of L1. Metal sulfate binding selectivity in solution is further supported by isothermal titration calorimetric studies of L1 with different Zn salts in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), where a binding affinity is observed for ZnSO4 (K-a = 1.23 X 10(6)), which is 30- to 50-fold higher than other Zn salts having other counteranions in DMSO. Sulfate salts of Cd-II/Co-II also exhibit binding constants in the order of similar to 1 x 10(6) as in the case of ZnSO4. Positive role of the urea unit in the selectivity is confirmed by studying a model ligand L2, which is devoid of anion recognition urea unit. Structural characterization of four MSO4 [M = Zn-II, Cd-II, Co-II, Mn-II] complexes of L1, that is, complex 1, [(L1)(2)(Zn)(2)(mu-SO4)(2)]; complex 2, [(L1)(2)(H2O),(Cd)(2)(mu-SO4)(2)]; complex 3, [(L1)(2)(H2O)(2)(Co)(2)(mu-SO4)(2)]; and complex 4, [(L1)(2)(H2O)(2)(Mn)(2)(mu-SO4)(2)], reveal the formation of sulfate-bridged eight-membered crownlike binuclear complexes, similar to one of the concentration-dependent dimeric forms of MSO4 as observed in solid state. Finally, L1 is found to be highly efficient in removing ZnSO4 from both aqueous and semiaqueous medium as complex 1 in the presence of other competing Zn-II salts via precipitation through crystallization. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis has also confirmed bulk purity of complex 1 obtained from the above competitive crystallization experiment.