Synthesis, Characterization, and Spectroscopic Investigation of New Iron(III) and Copper(II) Complexes of a Carboxylate Rich Ligand and Their Interaction with Carbohydrates in Aqueous Solution

New
tetra-iron­(III) (K4[1]·25H2O·(CH3)2CO and K3[2]·3H2O·(OH)) and di-copper­(II) (Na3[3]·5H2O) complexes as carbohydrate
binding models have been synthesized and fully characterized used
several techniques including single crystal X-ray crystallography.
Whereas K4[1]·25H2O·(CH3)2CO and Na3[3]·5H2O are completely water-soluble, K3[2]·3H2O·(OH) is less soluble in all common solvents
including water. The binding of substrates, such as d-mannose, d-glucose, d-xylose, and xylitol with the water-soluble
complexes in different reaction conditions were investigated. In aqueous
alkaline media, complexes K4[1]·25H2O·(CH3)2CO and Na3[3]·5H2O showed coordination ability toward
the applied substrates. Even in the presence of stoichiometric excess
of the substrates, the complexes form only 1:1 (complex/substrate)
molar ratio species in solution. Apparent binding constants, pKapp, values between the complexes and the substrates
were determined and specific mode of substrate binding is proposed.
The pKapp values showed that d-mannose coordinates strongest to K4[1]·25H2O·(CH3)2CO and Na3[3]·5H2O. Syntheses, characterizations and
detailed substrate binding study using spectroscopic techniques and
single crystal X-ray diffraction are reported.