Solvent extraction of heavy metals with a 23-membered macrocyclic ionophore attached with BF2+-capped cobalt(III) complex

A new (E, E)-dioxime cobalt(III) complex [Co(HL)(2)pyCl] containing four 23-membered macrocyclic ionophores has been prepared. The cobalt(III) complex [Co(LBF2)(2)pyCl] bridged with BF2+ was prepared using the precursor cobalt(III) complex and boron trifluoride ethyl ether complex. The solvent extraction of heavy metal cations such as Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Hg2+ and Pb2+ by the BF2+-capped cobalt(III) complex has been investigated. The structure of the complexes is proposed according to elemental analyses, H-1 and C-13-NMR, IR and mass spectral data.